Keyser Claims Victory in Dramatic Walk-Off Against PikeView in State Softball Tournament

Brielle Root's clutch double in the bottom of the seventh inning propelled No. 5 Keyser to a thrilling 4-3 victory over No. 6 PikeView in the Class AA state softball tournament on Wednesday at Little Creek Park, South Charleston. This loss marked the end of PikeView’s impressive season, which concluded with a record of 23-9, as they made their inaugural appearance in the state tournament.

The decisive moment arrived quickly for the Golden Tornado. After Bibs Felton opened with a walk, Root capitalized on the first pitch she faced, sending the ball to right field and driving in Felton for the game-winning run.

PikeView initially took control of the game with a 3-2 lead in the third inning. Bella Delida brought in Emma Weiss to tie the game with a single, followed by Emma Compton scoring on a passed ball, which put the Panthers ahead.

Keyser's relief pitcher, Leighton Johnson, was instrumental in the game’s latter stages, limiting PikeView to just one hit over 3 1/3 innings. Earlier in the tournament, PikeView had faced a setback against Herbert Hoover but managed to bounce back with a 4-1 elimination game win over Brooke, marking their first victory at the state level.