WEIRTON — A freshman is establishing herself as a quality player for the Weir softball team, while a senior is adding to her legacy.

Weir freshman shortstop Lila Boilegh launched a solo home run to lead off the top of the first inning, and senior pitcher Eliza Utt struck out seven while limiting Oak Glen to one run on four hits as the Red Riders held on to defeat the Golden Bears, 2-1, on a chilly Friday evening up at Weir’s Roberta “Birdie” DeFrancis Softball Field.

With the win, the Red Riders remain undefeated on the season, and have now outscored their opposition, 49-1, through the first five games.

“It was a typical Oak Glen-Weir High softball game,” Weir (5-0) head coach John Leary said. “I am so pleased with Eliza. She was on. She did a great of locating her pitches. She was very tuned into what we were trying to do. We talked about our game plan. We had a game plan for how we wanted to pitch certain batters, and she had good location on her pitches. She did a super job.”

After trailing by two runs after three innings, the visitors battled back and plated a run in the sixth to pull within one run. Oak Glen got its leadoff batter on to start the seventh, however, Utt retired the next three batters to end the game sending the Weir girls into celebration mode.

“You want to win these games,” Oak Glen (2-3) head coach Sherrie Garner said. “These things happen. There was a lot of intensity out there today. Weir is back in our section and our region again this year. They were with us in the OVAC tournament, but having them back in our region adds a piece to it. It creates excitement.”

Boilegh, who replaced standout Rayna Hoover at shortstop, reached base all three times she was at the plate, and she scored both of her team’s runs.

After launching a home run over the fence in left to start the game, she drew a walk with one out in the third. Using her speed, Boilegh was able to advance to third on a sacrifice bunt by Utt, and she scored Weir’s second run on a single by Bella Weber to give the Red Riders a 2-0 lead. That second run proved to be the difference in the game.

“It’s nice,” Leary said about Boilegh impact on her team and on the game. “She is a nice player to have. She plays shortstop. She covers a lot of ground. She hits the ball well. I am pleased with her so far. It is tough when you lose a player like Rayna. It will take a while, but she may replace Rayna. She has done a good job.”

The Red Riders led 2-0 going into the sixth when the Golden Bears staged a rally. 

With one out, Mattie Carney doubled to center to give Oak Glen a runner in scoring position. After advancing to third, she scored on a single by Danica Holden to draw her team to within one run at 2-1. The Golden Bears had the tying run on first with two outs, however, Utt induced a groundball hit back to her to end the threat.

Kylie Robinson reached on an error to start the seventh before being replaced by a pinch runner, however, Utt pitched herself out of harm’s way as she recorded a strikeout, a flyout and a groundout to end the game giving her team a hard-fought victory against the defending West Virginia Class AA state champions.

“You see the pitcher the third time around,” Garner said. “You want to hit the ball. Weir is an excellent team. They have some good hitters. The top of the lineup is really good. They put the ball in play. They tested our defense, and I thought our defense played well. We started to hit the ball, but we started to hit late in the game. We need to start to hit the ball earlier.”

Utt finished the game with seven strikeouts and two walks. 

“We have played five games and we have only given up one run,” Leary said. “Eliza was on today. She has been on all season. She understands that if we are going to be competitive this season, the focus is going to be on her to shut the other team down. We have a lot of young people in the field. 

“Oak Glen is a solid team. I had the opportunity to watch Oak Glen play a couple of times. They can hit the ball like always. There is no let up in their lineup. You can’t rely on an easy out. 

“I’m really pleased with Eliza. (Catcher) Loganne (Barton) and Eliza work really well together. Loganne does a good job of framing the pitches.”

The hosts outhit the visitors, 5-4, but the Golden Bears ended up with 28 batters in the ballgame, while Weir had 25.

Carney pitched well for the Golden Bears, but she ended up taking the loss for Oak Glen. The junior struck out eight while not walking a batter. At one point, the standout struck out five straight batters to keep her team within striking distance.

Carney missed a her team’s first three games due to an injury, however, she returned to the field Thursday and helped lead her team to a 10-2 victory on the road down at Wheeling Park.

“She’s coming around,” Garner said. “She had to take a break. She had a knock on her head. She is healthy. First and foremost, we want our girls to be healthy.” 

The home run by Boilegh was Weir’s lone extra-base hit of the game as all four of the other hits by the Red Riders were singles. Individually, Weber recorded two singles and an RBI, while Chelsea DeVore and Utt each tallied a base hit.

Offensively for Oak Glen, Holden delivered two singles and an RBI, and Nevaeh Heath collected a base hit.

“Lila gave us a big lift with that home run,” Leary said. “We started quickly. We scored an early run. That run lasered in our focus. That run was important.”

Weir was scheduled to play a doubleheader Saturday against Martins Ferry on the road.

The Golden Bears looked to get over .500 for the first time this season as Oak Glen as they were set to take on Tyler Consolidated in a doubleheader on the road Saturday.

So far this season, Oak Glen has faced quality competition as the Bears have already faced University, local-rival Beaver Local, Big Red, Wheeling Park and county-rival Weir.

Weir 2, Oak Glen 1

Oak Glen 000 001 0 – 1 4 1

Weir        101 000 X – 2 5 1

OAK GLEN (2-3): Carney LP (8K, 0BB) and Heath. Carney D; Heath S; Holden 2S, RBI.

WEIR (5-0): Utt WP (7K, 2BB) and Barton. Boilegh HR, RBI; Utt S; Weber 2S, RBI; DeVore S.