However, the Golden Bears’ run fell short in an elimination game on Thursday morning in a 7-4 loss to Herbert Hoover at “The Rock” in South Charleston.

Kell allowed three runs over six innings with six strikeouts and a pair of walks before McKay finished the game in relief with a punchout, no walks and four runs given up.

“The girls showed a lot of passion,” Oak Glen coach Sherrie Garner said. “We had some situations with exhaustion. It’s a grueling situation with the rain and you don’t sleep where you usually do but Lizzie pitched a fantastic game and the passion that Maddie has for the game is unbelievable. She’ll get to continue her dream at Toledo.”

Herbert Hoover struck for a pair of runs in the first inning on a hit from Brooklyn Huffman.

The Huskies added another in the third and broke it open with a four-run fourth inning to advance to the state championship game.

Grayson Buckner struck out two and walked one in three innings and Emma Veltri finished the game with two strikeouts and a walk.

Sydney Bright was the bright spot for Herbert Hoover in the fourth as she connected for a home run. She also added a single and three RBI.

Josi Fix tallied a single and a RBI in the victory.

“There are some good ball players down here,” Garner said. “We didn’t get some breaks and some of our strategies didn’t work out but this is a treasure to be a part of. The girls enjoyed it and their families have invested their time so these girls can play around the calendar.”

Oak Glen cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first with a run and attempted a rally in the fifth with a three-run frame but it just wasn’t enough this time around.

McKay doubled and drove in a pair of runs at the dish, while Olivia Munoz and Sarah Brown each garnered a hit and a RBI for the Golden Bears.

“Our hearts break for now but I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls,” Garner said. “I’ve known them since the third grade. This is our community down here and it’s fantastic to have this experience with them.”