Weir High softball celebrates seniors
Red Riders best rival Bruins again, win fifth straight game
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WEIRTON -- Weir High celebrated senior day Friday against Brooke with three different contributions from its three seniors during the 9-1, five-inning victory.
First, it was an emotional one for Isabella Aperfine, who has been sidelined with an arm injury. Her return to this season is questionable at best. The injury occurred seven days prior against the Bruins (14-4).
Aperfine has been around the team and supported it as best as she can.
"She had never been off the field, I mean never, since Day 1 of her freshman year," Red Rider head coach John Leary said. "I know I'm biased, but from what I've seen the last few years, just like Sophia Mikula was the best catcher in the state, I think Bella was the best shortstop in the state. At least one of them because I didn't see all AAA schools play. I'll put her up against anybody."
Next is center fielder Alexis Adams, who has taken over the leadoff spot since Aperfine's absence. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Kalliopi Makricostas singled to center, and Adams gunned down Emilee Knorr at home plate. Catcher Sophia Aperfine also lunged to apply the tag.
"(Adams') been a good defensive player for us as long as she's been here," Leary said. "She came to us as a sophomore. She's come a long way because she started slow with her bat. She was our No. 2 hitter, then we bumped her up a spot since Bella (Aperfine's) injury. She makes it easy for us in the outfield."
Finally, there is Arianna Miller. She started in right field and batted seventh but normally does not see the field too often. Her contributions occur in the dugout.
"Ariana came to us as a transfer student from Wyoming. Last year was her first year here," Leary said. "She's a great asset because even though she doesn't play a lot, she keeps the charts for me. She's been very diligent about keeping pitch charts.
"Everybody can't be on the field, so it's great that there's a role for her. She's done some courtesy running. What she's really be valuable doing is her willingness to accept her role. That's huge."
Brooke began Friday's game with a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Baylei Jones led off with a single, then Knorr walked. With Jones on third, Knorr stole second, and a bad throw allowed Jones to cross home plate.
Weir High (17-7), who has won its last five contests, answered back with a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame. Reagan Hoover bunted her way to first with one away. She swiped second base, reached third on a throwing error and scored on another miscue during the same play.
Hoover later gave her squad the lead for good with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the third -- her first career dinger at the varsity level.
"Just watching her this year, from Game 1 to 24, I don't think there's a kid offensively that's come as far as she has," Leary said. "Most of the year we had her batting ninth because I don't want my weakest hitter batting there. With the injury to Bella, we popped her to the No. 2 hole. She can bunt and has a little pop to her bat."
Rylee Donaldson, who has replaced Isabella Aperfine in the lineup, drove a pair home with a two-out single in the fourth.
With a 4-1 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth, the Red Riders would not allow the game to continue to the sixth.
Olivia Baker led off with a bloop double and later scored on a passed ball. With two outs, Mallory Rosnick and Madison Angus singled, followed by a Sophia Aperfine walk to load the bases. Chesney Tice delivered with a first-pitch two-run single, while Sophia Aperfine scored on a throwing error. Mea Kaufman, who replaced Miller and recorded two hits, ended it with an RBI two-bagger.
"It was a snowball. I thought Maleaha (Misch) pitched well. We had them out in front, the game was close and if you make a mistake, they can hurt you," Brooke head coach Jim DiCarlo said. "The last five runs should not have scored. You can't give good teams extra outs, and we haven't been playing good defense lately."
The Bruins made four errors overall, along with other mistakes, as well.
Tice started for Weir High and earned the victory in four innings. She allowed an unearned run on four hits, one walk and struck out one. Angus pitched the fifth, allowed a base knock and punched out one.
"It's something I like to do sometimes because they have two different styles pitching," Leary said regarding the pitching change. "Brooke has some good hitters, and you want to give them a different look. They work together really well like that. Plus, we're playing a doubleheader (Saturday), and I didn't want either of them pitching seven innings (Friday) to save some pitches."
Misch went the distance, allowing three earned runs on 11 hits, one walk and struck out three. All five of Brooke's hits were singles.
"We had to take that opportunity. The ball was hit hard. (Adams) came up perfect. I just have to give Weir credit," DiCarlo said in regard to Knorr being thrown out in the first.
"I thought we hit the ball pretty well. We just didn't capitalize early. We had some opportunities."
UP NEXT
Brooke: Tentatively travels to Magnolia for a doubleheader today (Saturday).
Weir High: Tentatively heads to Fairmont today (Saturday) for another DH. It faces East Fairmont first, then Fairmont Senior.
"I would think a sweep would kind of guarantee the second seed (in the sectionals)," Leary said. "Oak Glen, of course, will be No. 1, but we defeated two of the three Fairmont teams. We haven't faced East yet."
Weir High 9, Brooke 1
Brooke 1-0-0 0-0 -- 1 5 4
Weir High 1-0-1 2-5 -- 9 11 2
BROOKE (14-4): Misch (LP, CG, 9R (3ER), 11H, 1BB, 3K) and Felicity. Jones 2S; Lippoli S; Misch S; Makricostas S.
WEIR HIGH (17-7): Tice (WP, 4IP, 1R (0ER), 4H, 1BB, 1K), Angus (1IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 1K) and Aperfine. Hoover S, HR, RBI; Rosnick S, D; Angus S; Tice 2S, 2RBIs; Donaldson S, 2RBIs; Baker D; Kaufman S, D, RBI.