Paden City’s softball season may have come to a close Friday in the sectional tournament, but they made sure they went down fighting and scratching.

First up for the Lady Wildcats were the county rival Valley Lumberjills, a team that previously defeated them in the regular season by scores of 13-1 and 9-2.

But as most high school sports enthusiasts know, the records are wiped clean during the post season.

Both Paden City and Valley found that out in the second game Wednesday evening at Nathan Hassig Memorial Fields in New Martinsville.

In perhaps one of the finest games the Lady Wildcats have played all season, Coach Penny Baker’s team surprised many with how well they played in the opening game.

While the defense allowed a total of 22 runs in their previous outings against Valley, they cut the limit down drastically with tight defense and excellent pitching from Kim Davis.

She would stifle the Lumberjills with 12 of their 21 outs coming via strike out while giving up only three hits. The rest of the defense kept the Lady ‘Cats in the game with great fielding in all positions.

Still, the ‘Jills were able to strike first with a run in the third inning.

Not to be outdone, Paden City would answer with two runs in the top of the fourth to stun Valley and take control of the game as Alli Bertozzi and Davis circled the bases. After they scored another run in the fifth, the Wildcats responded with another pair of runs in the sixth.

The Lumberjills couldn’t answer and the Wildcats earned the victory 4-2 with nine hits and only giving up one error.

Alli Bertozzi led the way for the Wildcats with three hits coming on a couple singles and a triple while batting in a run.

Thursday saw the Lady ‘Cats give sectional favorite Cameron a shock in New Martinsville after they took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and hold if for over half the game.

Vicki Yurisko scored with a single RBI to open up the game for Paden City, but they couldn’t receive any other run support in the game.

The Lady Dragons started to warm their bats up in the fourth inning with two runs and one run in the fifth before taking off with a huge seven-run sixth inning all the while shutting out the ‘Cats for the remainder of the game.

Davis had five strikeouts in the loss. Bertozzi had another strong game with a single and a double for two of her teams’ four hits.

The loss set up Paden City for a rematch against the Lumberjills in the losers’ bracket in an elimination game.

Unfortunately the ‘Jills found their stride again after defeating Hundred in another elimination bout.

After going down in order in the first, Bertozzi reached on base with a triple before scoring on an error.

It would be their only run until the sixth inning. There Davis and Bertozzi both singled to put runners on first and second.

A fielder’s choice moved them to second and third base.

Sydney Frye would then double to move both runners home, but by then Valley was still ahead by six runs to reach the sectional finals and end the young Wildcats’ season.

Davis finished with five strikeouts. Amber Palmer chipped in with a hit as well.