As of early this morning, the Bridgeport High School softball team was ready to slide into tonight’s regional finals.

 

“We had an excellent practice last night,” said Coach Frank Lopez. “It was short, but sweet and I think they’re ready.”

 

As it turns out, the Lady Indians have one more day until the home contest against Berkeley Springs which will tell the tale whether the team makes its first state tournament appearance in more than 15 years.

 

“(Berkeley Springs) is coming such a long distance,” said Lopez about the Region II final originally scheduled for 6 p.m. today, but postponed until Friday because of weather. “We couldn’t risk it.”

 

So far this week, the Lady Indians have suffered one loss and added another victory to their now 29-4 record. The former came Monday as BHS fell 9-2 to University High.

 

“We just didn’t play well,” Lopez said. “We only had two hits.”

 

Those hits were contributed by Hannah Clark and Molly Layne. Splitting time on the mound were Danielle Dennison, Allison Winans and Shae Tomasik.

"Tomasik pitched a couple strong innings for us,” Lopez said.

 

The Lady Indians not only came out of the University High game with a loss, but also with some team injuries.

 

Molly Layne and Allison Winans both got zinged and suffered injury to their thigh and knee, respectively, Lopez said.

 

In Tuesday’s contest with Elkins, Lopez subbed freshman Kat Fortney for Layne at second base. With right fielder Hanshaw having to miss the game for another school activity, Lopez put Danielle Wilson in her position.

 

“And she made a game-saving catch in right field,” he said. “That was very good for her confidence.”

 

In what Lopez referred to as a “barn burner,” BHS beat the Tigers 2-1.

 

“We had four hits against Elkins,” Lopez said. “They were by Taylor Smith, Joplin Kehrer, Shae Tomasik and Abby Strait – who had a triple which was big. It happened in the bottom of the fifth when she pinched hit for a freshman – Catie Dennison - who hit a sacrifice fly to right field. She drove in Abby in what proved to be the winning run.”

 

With regard to Friday night’s final, Lopez isn’t sure what to expect.

 

“I think their record is deceiving. It’s 15-15, but they traveled to Myrtle Beach and played some pretty good teams and they’ve played some good teams in the Panhandle,” said Lopez about Berkeley Springs. “We played them last year in a tournament so we’re a little bit familiar with them, but this is another year.”

 

Like most teams which BHS has faced this year, Lopez expects Berkeley Springs to put the ball into play.

 

“My pitchers are not strike-out pitchers,” he said.

 

So the Lady Indians’ job is to likewise make the plays, get runners on base and drive in those runs, Lopez said.

 

Although this wouldn’t be the BHS softball team’s first time at states, it would be its first under Lopez’s coaching. While coaching the Lady Cougars of Lincoln High School, he and his team made it that level of play twice.

 

Getting there with this particular group would be sweet, he said.

 

“If we could get another step further, it would be a good experience – whether we do anything there or not,” he said. “I just hope we get to experience that. This has been a super bunch of girls. The team chemistry is awesome and they just like being around each other.”

 

Rain delay or not, Lopez said the Lady Indians are ready for Berkeley Springs.

 

“At this stage of play – with 33 games already played – if we’re not ready now, we’ll never be ready,” he said.