By Stephen Smoot
The season started with big run totals in big games against big time programs, tearing into Class AAA Elkins to open the season, annihilating the defending Class A state champion Pendleton County Wildcats, and beating up Robert C. Byrd. Few teams frightened opponents with their hitting prowess quite like the Lincoln Cougars this year.
That said, the first question on the minds of Lincoln faithful lay in their seeding. With a 23 and eight record, undefeated in their conference, they were set at seventh to Petersburg’s second. The Vikings had a similarly strong schedule and did similarly well over the course of their season.
They stormed into the state playoffs this year looking to make a mark. On the opening day of play, they likely were saying to themselves “don’t know why there’s no sun in the sky” when contemplating a day of stormy weather.
And that stormy weather had an impact that helped the waterlogged players not in the least.
The sun actually teased the teams as play started, shining through a crack in the relentless march of rainstorms across the western and central parts of the state.
Cougar hitters, however, brought the thunder to open play in the first. Kennedy Linville led off and grounded the second pitch to her into centerfield. Jones appeared to be out on a slow roller to first, but that pitch was called as illegal, giving Jones another opportunity. This time, she popped the pitch off of the hurler in the circle and made first safely.
Brogan Sampson stepped in with Linville in scoring position. On her way to working a full count, a passed ball and throwing error advanced to second and third, but Sampson grounded out in the infield for the first out. Petersburg’s shortstop looked off the least runner at third before rifling the ball for the out.
Two batters later, Aspen Dyer stepped in with runners on second and third. As ominous thick gray clouds rolled in, she ripped a two balls and two strikes pitch into left for a base hit that brought two runs batted in.
Petersburg showed their plate prowess some in their half of the first, loading the bases with one out. A ground ball to third base only got the lead runner out, preserving the lead. Pitcher Adrianna Elder bore down on the batter, getting a harmless infield pop out to retire the side.
Capping the first inning was the first of several rain delays that plagued the game and undermined the momentum Lincoln tried to build in the first few innings. Some lasted a few minutes, but those that came with lightning resulted in mandatory 30 minute pauses, reset with every lightning strike.
Undaunted in the second, Lincoln continued the hit parade. Kerstyn Leggett worked the Viking pitcher for nine pitches before securing a walk. Haleigh Gump sacrificed for the cause by laying down an effective bunt in the face of a suddenly driving rain. That brought Linville up with one out and one on, but she had to wait on the rain to finish that at bat. Even then, she still had to endure hard falling rain as she tried to put the ball in play.
She hit a soft grounder towards third. Petersburg initially seemed to have the lead runner fooled, but this time she sprinted in and slid under the tag, scoring the third Cougar run. Petersburg contested the call, but to no avail. Linville also advanced to second on the throw.
Jones drew a walk, with Sampson also getting a free pass to load the bases. Elder followed with yet another at bat split by a rain delay. When play resumed, down no balls and two strikes, she drove the next pitch deep to center and got two more runs across. Petersburg wanted nothing to do with Dyer, giving her the intentional walk, but then saw Reese Bennett smack a ground ball into left field, driving in two more runs for the Cougars.
Two batters later, bases loaded once again, Leggett clubbed a shot into left field and tabulated another RBI for the team.
A new Viking pitcher came to the mound, only to see Haleigh Gump deliver with a humpback liner to right field. Two more came in and Lincoln stood tall with a nine to nothing lead.
Petersburg picked up four in the bottom of the third, but the Cougars were not done. In the top of the fourth, Addison Moore took the first pitch and lined it to second with bad intentions, but the Viking fielder made a beautiful play to record the initial out.
Leggett and Gump both hit flares to shallow right field, bringing up Linville. She worked a three and one count before driving a ball to right field for an RBI single. Jones came up to bat with the Viking pitcher on her heels and runners at the corners. During the first pitch to her, she took a covering swing as Lincoln called a double steal, runners advancing to second and also safely to home. The daring call brought Lincoln’s 10th run
Jones then grounded to short, which resulted in another RBI, but also a sacrifice as she was the second out. Sampson sent in the next score with a ground ball up the middle.
Despite the commanding lead, the delays took their toll on Lincoln. They sapped the momentum of their opening salvos against the Vikings, giving the team down nine, then eight, to regroup, gather themselves, and come back disciplined. Petersburg is a proud Potomac Highlands program and none of the schools from there accept defeat easily.
Lincoln eventually fell 14 to 12 to the team that eventually seized the Class AA title, but could not “walk around heavy-hearted and sad.” When “night comes around” they could not be “feeling bad” about “rain pourin’ down, blindin’ every hope that I had.”
Because tomorrow was another day, another chance to play, and win or lose, more memories to make.
