HUNTINGTON — As Huntington’s softball team tries to get its second consecutive state title this week, the road through Vienna will not be easy with several solid teams awaiting them at Jackson Park.
But, the Highlanders are ready. For there is no team that has gone through a tougher road to get to Vienna than Huntington.
It’s not enough that the defending state champions have a target on their backs because everyone wants to dethrone the queen.
They also have to deal with the burden of facing the state’s toughest region.
“We definitely have played the toughest teams. St. Albans is tough, Midland is tough,” Huntington pitcher Kayla Stinson said after throwing a no-hitter against St. Albans. “We have the toughest teams in our region. That’s the competition that you play at state.”
Spring Valley took the Highlanders to the brink in sectional play. So too did Cabell Midland, who was an inning away from advancing to Vienna for the regional finals.
And St. Albans came into the region final with a senior-laden class that had gone 112-15 in the last four years, but was still hungry for its first shot at the state tournament.
In each scenario, different players stepped up and propelled the team to the next level. Now, the second-straight title is well within reach as the tournament shifts to a double-elimination format.
“I am glad this team has the opportunity to now defend its state championship,” Huntington coach Darren Woody said.
Huntington will travel up to Vienna on Tuesday night for a cookout that the tournament directors throw for all the teams and the Highlanders’ first game will be at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday against Robert C. Byrd.
DOUBLE NO-NO: While Stinson was celebrating her no-hitter and regional final win, she became the second area pitcher to accomplish the feat.
Point Pleasant pitcher Tessa Wyant doubled her pleasure this postseason by throwing back-to-back no-hitters to lead the Big Blacks to the Class AA, Region I title.
The first came in the region semifinals in a 5-0 win over Ritchie County last week before she backed it up with another 5-0 win over Magnolia in the region championship game. Against the Blue Eagles, she struck out 17 batters.
RAIN MAN: Special kudos goes out to the grounds crew at Chesapeake High School for being able to get in Friday’s matchup between the Panthers and Portsmouth in the Ohio Division III postseason.
Despite having a steady rain for much of the early afternoon, workers got the field ready with only a 45-minute delay.
While every other game within a 45-minute radius was cancelled, the field at Chesapeake was in excellent shape and the Panthers moved on with a 3-2 win.
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