File photo Drea Watts struck out all 15 batters she faced in Cabell Midland’s 11-0 win over Buckhannon-Upshur on Thursday.

ONA — In a battle of teams among the top five in the MetroNews rankings, top-ranked and defending Class AAAA state champion Cabell Midland rode the pitching of Drea Watts and a first-inning eruption to claim an 11-0 win over No. 4 and South Region foe Buckhannon-Upshur on Thursday night.

Watts, the captain of the 2025 all-state team and a Bowling Green commitment, didn’t allow a hit and struck out every batter she faced in the five-inning contest which ended early due to the mercy rule.

Watts helped her cause with a two-run double as part of an eight-run first inning.

Becca Conrad added a two-run double as well, with Jerica Noe and Kalissa Hess cracking run-producing doubles.

Hess also had an RBI single in the frame and Madison McCallister an RBI groundout.

The Lady Knights tacked on two runs in the second and a single score in third,

Kaelyn Caserta had an RBI single and McCallister and Summer Garcia sacrifice flies.

Becca Pastorius was tagged with the loss for the Lady Bucs in 1 2/3 innings of action.

Charity Talbott finished in relief.

B-U, which saw its nine-game winning streak snapped, is now 20-7 and will host Musselman at 6 p.m. today.