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JEFFERSON -- The deeper a high school softball team travels along the tournament trail, it usually is fueled by great pitching -- and West Branch has just that in senior star Jordan Anderson.
Anderson, headed to George Mason University on a softball scholarship, tossed a four-hitter Thursday in leading West Branch to a 3-1 district title win over Field in a game played in Jefferson.
"Jordan pitched another great game," lauded West Branch head coach Sis Woods. "Jordan travels and plays at a higher level of travel ball, which helps."
Anderson struck out 14 Field batters and walked none in the complete-game gem.
The win vaults the Warriors (23-7) into the Akron Division II regional semifinals where they will play Revere Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Firestone Stadium. Revere advanced Thursday with a district title win over the Norton Panthers.
West Branch knows Firestone Stadium well as it played for a state title there in 2018.
Pacing the Warriors' offense against Field were Anderson (single, double, walk), Sydney Mercer (game-deciding RBI single), Jaci Thomas (RBI single) and Tori McKay (single).
"We're buying into the small ball when we need it," said Woods. "We've come up with the big hits to get that run across the plate."
Mercer loves the one-for-all mentality on the Warriors' team.
"I feel (the team camaraderie) makes us play better actually," said Mercer. "When we're loose we just hit the ball and string them together."
West Branch took a 1-0 lead in the first. Anderson singled and courtesy runner Kiersten Skinner moved up on a wild pitch and a bunt by Destany Blake and scored on a ground ball RBI out by Mercer.
"It's always big when you can jump out and get that first run," said Woods.
The Warriors made it 2-0 in the third inning. Anderson had a double and Skinner again entered as a courtesy runner at second. Mercer then stepped to the plate and had an RBI single to center field, giving the Warriors a two-run advantage.
Field got its lone run in the top of the fourth on a home run to left by Megan Schmidt.
"Earlier in the year she (Anderson) would let that home run get to her but now if she gives up a big hit, she refocuses and has done a great job with that," praised Woods.
Anderson set Field down 1-2-3 in the seventh to send West Branch back to the regional.
NOTES
• Five of West Branch's seniors on this year's team, including Anderson, played in West Branch's Division II state championship game at Akron's Firestone Stadium vs. Keystone in 2018. That experience can only help as the Warriors head back there for the regional.
FI: 0-0-0-1-0-0-0--1-4-1
WB: 1-0-1-1-0-0-x--3-5-0
WB -- Jordan Anderson, wp (7IP, 4H, 14K, 0BB) and Sam Morris
FI -- Alexsa Hurd, lp (7IP, 5H, 4K, 2BB) and Olivia DeVries