Keyser, WV.
The Catamounts battled through the NJCAA Region 20 Tournament from May 10th-12th with the end goal of qualifying for the 2024 NJCAA World Series. After beating Frederick Community College and CCBC Catonsville, the Catamounts faced the College of Southern Maryland Hawks on Sunday, May 12th.
The weekend started with the Catamounts taking on the Frederick Cougars in game 1 of the tournament. It was much like the rest of the games this season where the Catamounts jumped to an early lead and did not look back. In the bottom of the first inning, Jamie Kelly hit a two run homerun to take a 2-0 lead. Potomac State pounded out nine more hits to win the opening game 11-0. Chloe Greise pitched all five innings, allowing only 3 hits and striking out 10. Alexa Shoemaker and Taylor Lamp each doubled. Along with Kelly's HR, Braylee Corbin and Emily Horn each homered. RBIs came from Meghan Harris (2), Kelly (3), Corbin (4), and Horn (2).
On Saturday, Potomac State moved on in the winners bracket to take on CCBC Catonsville, who won their opening game vs CSM. Chloe Greise again got the start in the circle with 8 strikeouts and allowing 3 hits. Although the Cardinals were held to only 3 hits, two of them were two run homeruns, both times bringing the game even. After a slow first two innings, the Catamounts got on the board first in the bottom of the third with Emily Horn driving in two runs. In the top of the fourth, Catonsville would hit their first homer to knot things up at 2. In the bottom of the inning, Potomac State would score two more runs to take a 4-2 lead. In the top of the sixth, the Cardinals would get their second homerun of the game again tying the game. Potomac State then found themselves in the bottom of the seventh inning with a chance to win the game and advance to championship sunday. Jamie Kelly, first up to bat, found herself in full count senario. Cardinal's pitcher Kayleigh Rishel stepped on the mound for the 3-2 pitch. Pitch was released and Kelly smacked it to center field, over the fence, for a walk-off homerun to send the Catamounts to the championship.
After a delayed start, due to the Catonsville vs CSM game being delayed and restarted Sunday morning, the championship game had finally arrived. Charity Wolfe, the Keyser native, got the start in the circle for the Catamounts and started out the first inning strong. In the bottom of the first inning, the Hawks walked lead off batter Eva Ochoa. Sophomore outfielder Meghan Harris singled and advanced Ochoa, and Freshman Jamie Kelly walked to load the bases. Freshman first baseman Braylee Corbin was able to hit a hard single and Ochoa came home easily with Meghan Harris following and sliding into home to put two on the scoreboard. The Catamounts continued to hold to the 2-0 lead until the Hawks equalized in the top of the 3rd inning. Two solo homeruns put them on the board and the score was tied 2-2. In the bottom of the 4th inning, with Ochoa on first, Meghan Harris hit a two run homerun to right field, putting Potomac State ahead 4-2. Wolfe went six innings allowing 4 hits and striking out 6. The Catamounts then found themsleves in familar territory. Three outs and another region championship. Chloe Griese came in to pitch the final inning. Greise struck out the first Hawk batter. The next batter popped out to third base putting the Catamounts one out away from another championship and another world series appearance. Greise got the third batter to ground to second, the ball was fielded by Kameron Beck, threw the first, three outs, and Potomac State is 4-peat Region 20 Champions.