Oak Glen’s softball team captured the Class AA, Region 1 title with a sweep of St. Marys in the best-of-three series on Tuesday. The Golden Bears (27-10) will take on Region 2 winner Petersburg (21-10) in the state semifinal at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday on Rock Field B at Little Creek Park. Members of the team are (front, from left) Macy Hartung, Brooklyn Barnhart, Maddie Murray, Riley Bruce, Mattie Carney, Kayla Wright, Nevaeh Heath; (second row) manager Lilli Cole, Addie Smith, Lexi Vincent, Danica Holden, Marleah Lough, Alex Watkins, Kylie Robinson, Camryn Richards, Mikalyn Balch; (back) head coach Sherrie Garner, coach Joleigh Sollars, coach Sara Wright, coach Matt Murray, coach Rhonda Stipec and manager Callie Wynn. (Special to The Review/Andrew Grimm)

From Staff Reports

NEW MANCHESTER, W.Va. — Oak Glen’s softball team is back at state for the third time in four years, but this time is different.

Due to reclassification, the Bears have moved to Class AA after being a regular participant at the AAA level for many years.

Oak Glen (27-10) will open the Class AA state tournament at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday on Rock Field B at Little Creek Park in Charleston against Region 2 winner Petersburg (21-10).

The double elimination tournament will conclude on Thursday. Region 4 winner Logan (21-6) will take on Region 3 winner Liberty (18-8) in the other state tournament opener.

Oak Glen comes into the tournament ranked No. 2 in West Virginia Class AA by MaxPreps. Logan is No. 1, while Petersburg is No. 8 and Liberty No. 11.

Logan owns a 5-0 regular season win over Oak Glen on April 4. In that one, Logan starter Myleigh Adkins struck out 14 Bears while giving up two hits.

The Bears and Logan did not play Petersburg, located two and a half hours outside of Washington D.C., or Liberty, located near Beckley and Shady Spring, during the regular season.

Super sophomore Mattie Carney leads the Bears with a .405 batting average and four home runs. She also is the team’s top pitcher with a 13-5 record with a 2.52 ERA. She had 149 strikeouts on the season with just 14 walks.

Senior Addie Smith leads the team with 34 hits. She’s backed up by junior Danica Holden who has a team high 31 RBIs. Senior Riley Bruce also is dangerous in the lineup with her .330 batting average and 32 total hits.

As a team Oak Glen is batting .304 with 218 hits, 156 RBIs, 38 doubles, 15 triples and 11 home runs. The team ERA is 2.28.