Lady Pointers get complete effort to beat Warren, advance to district semis

SOUTH POINT — If the South Point Lady Pointers went to the doctor on Thursday for a check up, they would have gotten a clean bill of health because everything was well.

The pitching was well. The hitting was well. The defense was well. And when you combine all three, well, you get a 14-2 win over the Warren Lady Warriors in the Division 4 district quarterfinals.

Kota Copley pitched a two-hitter, struck out seven, walked two and only one run was earned. And, her bat was feeling really well as she went 4-for-4 to help lead a 14-hit attack.

“We’ve been playing well the last few weeks. Kota has been pitching well, we’ve been hitting, and when we’re playing defense, we’re a real tough out,” said South Point head coach Tanner Heaberlin.

“Kota pitches really well, but she hits the ball fantastic. She is hitting over .600 this year. When our top three are hitting, we’re going to be a tough out, especially if Kota is pitching anywhere well at all.”

Kota Copley wasn’t the only one in the family feeling well. Older sister Adyson Copley also went 4-4 with a home run and 4 runs batted in.

Raygen Yates was 2-3 with 3 RBI, Brinly Stamper 1-3 with an RBI, Kyleigh Castle, Chloe West and Kaitlyn Evans were all 1-3 and Natilyn Spears drove in a pair of runs.

“Everybody has been hitting the ball. Kaylee has been hitting the ball. She got walked three times today. And Adyson is coming around batting about .500,” said Heaberlin. “Like I said, if the top three are hitting and getting on, and if the bottom of the lineup produces at all, we’re going to beat a lot of people.”

South Point (19-8) will now play Waverly at Logan on Monday at 4 p.m. in the Division 4 district semifinals.

South Point got a run in the first inning and came back with four runs in the second inning to lead 5-0.

Kota Copley singled in a run, Yates was hit with the bases loaded to force home a run, a wild pitch scored a run and Spears grounded out to drive in a run.

The Lady Pointers blew the game wide-open with a 9-run fourth inning.

Kota Copley doubled to lead off the inning and Adyson Copley followed with an RBI single.

Kaylee Stidham walked for the third time, Yates singled, and after a fielder’s choice Kyleigh Castle and Chloe West singled, and Stamper singled for a run.

With two outs, Kota Copley singled for a run and Adyson Copley capped the uprising with a 3-run home run to left field.

Warran (16-11) avoided the shutout in the fifth inning when Danica Gates had a 2-run double. Gates and Braylynn Bonnette each went 1-2 with both hits coming in the fifth.

Warren 000 02 = 2 2 3

South Point 140 9x = 14 14 1

Gracie Adams, Peyton Metz (4), Addalyn Williams (4) and Jayda Murray. Kota Copley and Natilyn Spears. W-Copley (IP-5.0, H-2, R-2, ER-1, K-7, BB-2). L-Adams (IP-3.0, H-7, R-7, ER-5, K-4, BB-3). Metz (IP-0.2, H-6, R-7, ER-2, K-1, BB-2). Williams (IP-0.1, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-1, BB-0). Hitting–Warren: Braylynn Bonnette 1-2, Danica Gates 1-2 2B 2-RBI; South Point: Kota Copley 4-4 2B 3-RBI, Adyson Copley 4-4 HR 4-RBI, Raygen Yates 2-3 3-RBI, Natilyn Spears 2-RBI, Kyleigh Castle 1-3, Chloe West 1-3, Brinly Stamper 1-3 RBI, Kaitlyn Evans 1-3.