Lancers shut down by West Jefferson

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

AKRON — It just wasn’t Lincolnview’s day.

The Lancers fell behind West Jefferson 4-0 in the first inning of Tuesday’s Division VI state semifinal game and couldn’t get untracked, as the Roughriders went on to an 8-0 victory at Akron’s Firestone Stadium. It was the first time all season the Lancers were shut out.

“Tough game today,” Lincolnview coach Eric Schwab said after the game. “Credit to West Jefferson, they are a good team that put pressure on early. I think the girls were ready to play, they prepare very well. We had our scouting report like any other game, a few plays just didn’t go our way.”

West Jefferson’s Jenna Mannon, a junior who has already committed to the University of Missouri, gave Lincolnview all sorts of trouble. After a single and an error put two on in the bottom of the first, Mannon blasted a 3-run homer to left field. She also went the distance on the mound and held a potent Lincolnview team to just two hits while striking out 10 and walking four.

After Mannon’s first inning home run, Emma Trein singled in a run, as West Jefferson sent nine batters to the plate in the opening inning.

“I think if we make a play or two in the first inning it could have been different,” Schwab said. “Getting down 4-0 was tough in the first inning. It’s pretty tough to get back from with a young team.”

The Roughriders put two on base in the second, but Ila Hughes was able to work out of the jam with three straight outs. However, West Jefferson sent eight batters to the plate in the third and scored three more runs, including two on a triple by Lacy Dunigan and another on a sacrifice that made it 7-0. An RBI double in the eighth by Hailey McBrayer provided what proved to be the final margin.

The Roughriders (25-5) stranded 10 runners, while Lincolnview left six on base. Hughes had one of Lincolnview’s two hits with a first inning single, while Lainey Spear, the team’s lone senior, singled in the sixth.

Hughes allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits with eight strikeouts and nine walks.

While the final score wasn’t what Lancers coaches, players and fans hoped for, Schwab noted it was a remarkable season.

“As a season, couldn’t be more prouder of these girls,” he said. “These girls have worked so hard in the off season and the season to get to this point. It doesn’t matter what the ages of the girls are, everyone says what a young team we have, but everyone invested has the same goals in the Lincolnview softball program. This young group will be hungry to keep the tradition going next season.”

I want to thank the community, parents, administration, past coaches, past players, businesses who sponsor us through the season, for help believing in what we have built here at Lincolnview and keeping the standard and the support through the tournament run,” he added. “It truly takes everyone involved to do what we do, and I am truly grateful the opportunity to be able to do what we do.”

West Jefferson will face Danville in the state title game. The Blue Devils snapped a 4-4 tie and pulled away for an 11-4 win over Dalton.

Box score

Lincolnview   000 000 0 – 0-2-2

W. Jefferson 403 001 x – 8-7-0

Lincolnview (ab-r-h-rbi): Emme Stevens 3-0-0-0; Ansley Schwab 2-0-0-0; Ila Hughes 3-0-1-0; Lainey Spear 3-0-1-0; Bella Hire 2-0-0-0; Kassidy Hammons 3-0-0-0; Avery Hoaglin 3-0-0-0; Makayla Marsee 2-0-0-0; Quinlyn Walker 2-0-0-0

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): Ila Hughes 6.0-7-8-6-9-8

West Jefferson (ab-r-h-rbi): Payton Kindcase 3-1-2-0; Mia Burgett 1-1-0-1; Jenna Mannon 2-1-1-3; Makailyn Messer 4-0-1-0; Payton Curry 3-1-0-0; Hailey McBrayer 4-1-1-1; Maddie Carruthers 1-1-0-0; Emma Trein 3-1-1-1; Lainey Dunigan 4-1-1-2

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): Jenna Mannon 7.0-2-0-0-4-10