By: Ryan Colaw

PHS Softball

Petersburg and Moorefield met for the fifth time this season Friday — the latest installment for the region championship.

Moorefi eld was able to force a winner-take-all Class A, Region II, Section 1 title bout by defeating Petersburg on Thursday 3-1, but the Vikings responded with a 3-2 victory the following day to capture a ninth consecutive section championship.

Petersburg right-hander Samantha Colaw went the distance and earned the victory allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out fi ve. Colaw (15-5) has pitched in three straight section title games.

“It means a lot to me to get the chance to pitch in these games,” she said. “I have been blessed with great teammates, athletes and coaches to have my back when stepping onto the field.”'

Petersburg (23-8) advances to the Region II championship game, where it’ll play a best-of-three series with Doddridge County with a spot in the Class A state tournament on the line.

Longtime head coach Bubba Hedrick recently won his 400th game when the Vikings toppled top-seeded Pendleton County, 6-2, on May 5. His 401st victory Friday proved to be even more difficult.

“Hard, hard game,” said Hedrick, who has a 401-156 record at the helm. “You got two great nights of softball against Moorefield. Kudos to them. We just got enough hitting.

“A key home run by Shyane Tawney got us going and loosened us up a little bit. Sammy worked out of some jams and that was big for us.”

Moorefield (18-10) pushed Petersburg to the winner-take-all matchup after Amber Williams carried the Yellow Jackets by allowing an unearned run on three hits while striking out nine Vikings to help secure the 3-1 victory.

Read more: Vikings clip Yellow Jacket wings, grab their ninth consecutive sectional title