Published: May 15, 2008 10:30 am         

Mt. Ridge downs Alco

Lady Miners, Sentinels to meet again

CRESAPTOWN - Marley Nolan scored on an infield ground ball in the top of the seventh inning to score the go-ahead run, and Kelsey Robertson had yet another strong showing as eighth-seeded Mountain Ridge defeated fourth-seeded Allegany 2-1 in the Class 1A West Region semifinals Wednesday at Carl Belt Field.

Mountain Ridge, 15-3 with a 12-game winning streak, will play Fort Hill on Friday, at 4 p.m., at Constitution Park's Long Field for the region title and spot in the stae tournament. The Miners beat the Sentinels twice during the regular season.

Robertson and Allegany's Hayley Stankan battled in a pitchers duel, with both allowing only four hits. Robertson struck out six and Stankan fanned five.

Both teams had one home run in the low-scoring affair. Danielle McGinnis hit a bases empty homer in the third to give the Miners a 1-0 lead. Hillary Lyons tied it with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth, but Mountain Ridge got that one back in the top of the seventh.

Nolan got the first hit in the Mountain Ridge seventh, and moved to second on a single by Stephanie Harden. Both advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and Nolan scored on a fielder's choice.

McGinnis homered and Nolan, Harden and Molly Cheshire singled to account for the Miners hits.

Lyons finished with a homer and a single for the Campers. Bethany Landis and Katie Alkire had singles for the other Allegany hits. Alkire's single came in the seventh, but she was left stranded at second.

"It was a well played game by both teams," said Allegany coach Rick Twigg. "It would have been a lot of fun to watch. It's hard for us because we were hitting the ball so well for the last four games, but we ran into a good pitcher today."

Allegany finished 16-6.