FAIRLEA- What looked like a steady George Washington victory turned into anything but in Fairlea on Thursday evening when the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans hosted the Lady Patriots.
After trailing for the entire game, East at least made it interesting and went down 14-13 after scoring 10 runs in the final three innings.
However, take away nine, yes NINE! Spartan errors, and the outcome is most likely much different at the end of the day.
GW took a 3-0 lead in their first at-bat on two of those Spartan errors and a sacrifice RBI from Ava Sitler.
The Spartans entered the second inning trailing 4-0 but got their first run of the game on an RBI groundout from Paige Totten.
The Patriots were then handed two runs in the top of the third on two Greenbrier East throwing errors on what could have been just a couple routine throws to first base, and they extended to 7-1 in the fourth.
But after picking up two runs in the bottom of the fourth frame on Haylee Heaster’s RBI double and another RBI grounder from Totten, things became a little more interesting.
Trailing 9-3 heading to the bottom of the fifth, the Spartans (12-7) could have easily given up with the mindset of ‘let’s get this game over with.’
But it was the total opposite of that thinking.
A walk to Reagan Cline started a rally that followed with an RBI single from Ally Martin. A single from Kennah Collins and a passed ball at home that scored Martin made it 9-5, GW. Then, Heaster laced a 2-run base hit to cut the deficit to 9-7. East added two more runs when Cline walked and Jenna Groves scored and Martin, batting for the second time in the frame, was hit by a pitch. After five innings, it was a whole new ballgame at 9-9.
But GW (11-8) answered right back with five more runs in the sixth. Reagan Wolfinbarger singled in the inning and two runs scored on a error on the same play. Ava Armstrong drew a bases loaded walk as well and the Patriots led 14-9 at that point.
Sydney Norman picked up an RBI single to keep the Spartans in it in the sixth as the game was 14-10 headed to the seventh.
East held George Washington scoreless in the top of half and came to the plate in the bottom looking for a rally.
But they came up just one short. Collins had an RBI single, and Heaster, who was terrific all night, hit another 2-run double, but that would be all East could muster.
Heaster led the offense with two doubles, five RBIs, two runs scored, and she went 3-4. Maddie Baker scored four runs and Martin (run, 2 RBIs) and Collins (RBI, 2 runs) had two hits each.
Wolfinbarger went 3-5 and scored four runs for GW.
East is back home for senior night on Friday, April 25 vs. Wyoming East. The JV will play first followed by the senior night ceremony, then the varsity game.
