Published: May 08, 2008 12:53 am            

Bears ready for Bees’ challenge in regionals

FAIRMONT — Ask coach Ken Beerbower or any member of West Fairmont’s softball team. Despite what the scoreboard suggests, what recent history has shown, the Polar Bears believe they can play with cross-town rival East Fairmont.

“If we play at our best, we have a shot at winning. That’s what it’s going to take,” Beerbower said.

“The third time (against East) is the charm and I really think if we put our minds to it, we can win,” West senior Chelsea Garcia said after last week’s sectional-clinching victory over North Marion.

That second — well, make that third — chance comes in the Class AAA Region I semifinal, set for 5 p.m. tonight in Pleasant Valley.

But heavy obstacles stand in the way for the Polar Bears, who enter play with an 11-17 record.

West managed just three hits in two losses against East (22-7-1) this year. In the first game, Alli Mayle flirted with a no-hitter before giving up a hit in the fifth inning of a 11-0, mercy-rule victory. Then, a little more than two weeks ago, Bees’ starter Niki Nuzum scattered a pair of hits in an 8-1 romp. East held a scant 2-1 lead going into the fourth inning.

“We’ve been working on our hitting the past few days,” Beerbower said. “We should be able to put the bat on the ball. But it’s going to take strong pitching. If Ashley (Gwynn) has a good game, it will give us a chance.”

In the past five seasons, a span of 14 games, West has beaten East only once. It happened in 2006, a 3-2 victory at Pleasant Valley. Before that, the Polar Bears went four years without a win in the series.

East has nabbed 10-0, mercy-rule victories in each of the past two regional semifinals. In the previous four regional games, it has outscored West, 28-0.

E-mail Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com.

        

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