photo by: Kim North

Barnesville first baseman Roselyn Anderson (30) applies a late tag to Martins Ferry’s Kendyl Brandon during fourth-inning action Wednesday at Memorial Park in western Belmont County. The Purple Riders prevailed, 5-2. The same two teams meet today in Martins Ferry.

BARNESVILLE – In the first week of the season, coaching staffs are trying to find out what certain players can do and how to use them. Getting a win is a bonus for some teams.

Not Martins Ferry, however. The Purple Riders have some very high expectations and Wednesday’s 5-2 softball victory over a young Barnesville squad on the Memorial Park diamond was nothing to write home about.

“We just weren’t consistent,” veteran Martins Ferry (2-0) head coach Jerry Magistro said. “We played last night away. We didn’t hit the ball early on tonight, but we came up with some clutch hits after that.”

Martins Ferry broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third when courtesy runner McKenzie Saxton raced home on a dropped third strike with two outs.

The Purple Riders built a 4-0 lead with three runs in the fifth. Ohio University recruit Giana Chirpas doubled to left leading off and went to third on a wild pitch. She came home on the first of Gracie Lucas’s two run-producing singles. Pinch-hitter Jayde Carman’s groundout drove in Lucas and Ella Mamone sprinted home on a second dropped third strike.

The margin grew to 5-0 in the sixth when Chirpas found the gap in right-center for a one-out triple. She trotted home when Gracie Lucas came through once again with a single to left.

“Gracie had two really big hits,” Magistro said.

Barnesville, which was held to three harmless singles through five innings against Martins Ferry ace Maddie Lucas, received a two-out triple from losing pitcher Ella Betts and a run-scoring double by Peyton Loudin in the bottom of the sixth. Loudin would score on an error and Mariah Schaffer reached on a single as Shamrocks brought the tying run to the plate.

However, Maddie Lucas induced a pop up to Chirpas at short to end the inning.

“Barnesville got excited. They were in the game at the end,” Magistro said. “They thought they had a chance to come back and beat us, and I am proud of the way we gutted it out at the end to hold them off. A win is a win.”

Barnesville head coach Kelly Hanlon was proud of the way her youthful squad performed despite the loss.

“We lost seven seniors who were all four-year starters,” she explained. “Six of the girls that played today are in their first season of varsity softball. That’s tough, but we knew coming in we had a tough first couple of weeks with our schedule. Tonight was our third game and we’ve gotten better each game.

“Our bats will come around and we’ll be alright,” Hanlon said.

“I just told the girls that they (Barnesville) know they can play with you and they are going to try and do that tomorrow,” Magistro said as the Purple Riders will welcome the Shamrocks Thursday in a makeup game from earlier in the week.

Chirpas had a double and triple to lead Martins Ferry’s nine-hit attack. In addition to the two singles from Gracie Lucas, Makayla Cole also had a pair of one-base raps. Maddie Lucas struck out five and didn’t walk a batter in gaining the win inside the circle.

Loudin added a single to her double. Betts fanned six and Loudin struck out three.

Martins Ferry 5, Barnesville 2

M. Ferry 001 031 0 – 5 9 2

Barnes 000 002 0 – 2 6 1

MF-M. Lucas wp (5K, 0BB) and Rose; Cole 2S; Chirpas D, T; G. Lucas 2S, 2rbi; Carman rbi

B-Betts lp (6K, 3BB), Loudin (5), (3K, 1BB) and Welch; Betts T; Loudin S, D, rbi