BUFFALO - There is not gentle way to describe Marlena Frye's state of mind after her final state tournament game.

"That was devastating,'' said the senior, who saw dreams of a Class A three-peat dashed when she couldn't pitch after running out of innings in the second and deciding title game in which South Harrison defeated Man 8-7 in eight innings.

"When [television] interviewed me earlier I said it'll feel good to come back and redeem myself and I feel like that's exactly what I've done.''

Frye fired a two-hit shutout and struck out 12 in the South's 7-0 victory over the North in the second game of the 18th annual North-South All-Star Games on Thursday.

The West Virginia State recruit also shared a five-inning no-hitter with Logan's Ali Nease, but the North prevailed for a 2-0 win in the third game, taking two out of three on the afternoon. The North won the opener 3-2, scoring two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

While Thursday's all-star games can't compare with states, Frye did go out on a personal high note in her last two games as a high school player.

"I didn't come here with any expectations,'' said Frye. "I played ball and what happens, happens. I'm pretty happy with it.

"As a pitcher, you always have to be focused and I don't take any game, I don't care if it's an all-star game or T-ball, I take it serious. I played with a great group of girls and played against a great group of girls. It felt good to do good.''

Frye closed the chapter on an outstanding four-year career in which she led the Hillbillies to back-to-back state titles before a runner-up finish this year. She compiled a 106-10 record with 1,256 strikeouts and 86 shutouts.

"I'm ready to move on,'' Frye said. "I'm really looking forward to going [to West Virginia State] and getting a good education and playing softball.

"[West Virginia State coach Bob Allen] said I'm definitely going to play as a freshman, but most of all I'm going to go down there and have a good time.''

Chapmanville's Bre Thomas, who earned MVP honors for the South, smacked a two-run home run to center field in the top of the seventh of the opener to seize a 2-1 lead. Ritchie County's Brittany Spencer gave the North a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-out, run-scoring single.

Nicholas County's Erika Bradford led off the bottom of the inning with a double for the North and Robert C. Byrd's Adrienne Daniels sacrificed her to third. Bradford then came home on a wild pitch from Sherman's Brittany May, who relieved in the fifth for the South, to knot the game at 2-all with one out.

Ripley's Carly Caldon walked, moved to second to keep the North's rally alive, but John Marshall's Hanna Gossett grounded out to third for the second out. May had two strikes on Wheeling Park's Angela Johnson, but then uncorked her third wild pitch of the inning as Caldon came home for the winning run.

St. Albans' Samantha Snodgrass, the South's starting pitcher, gave up one earned run on one hit in four innings with 10 strikeouts. Ritchie County's Brittnay Spencer, who singled in a run, was named the North's MVP while Ripley Ally Southall, the North's starter, yielded no runs, one hit and whiffed seven in four innings.

Frye was nearly unhittable in the second game, surrendering just two singles and walking two in the South's 7-0 win.

The South took the lead for good in the second when Snodgrass opened with a triple and scored on a groundout by Neace (two RBIs) for a 1-0 edge. Frye, who also singled in a run, was chosen MVP for the South. The North's MVP was Morgantown's Kiara Smith, who had the only two hits off Frye.

The North plated two unearned runs in the second and made it stand up despite not getting any hits for a 2-0 win in the third and final game.

Southall allowed one hit in three scoreless innings while Johnson tossed two scoreless frames, yielding just two singles, for the North. Daniels was the MVP for the North while Scott's Ciera Bias, who went 2-for-2, was the MVP for the South.

Frye relieved Neace in the second after Neace was forced out of the game because of the heat and finished with 32/3 hitless and scoreless innings. Neace allowed two runs, both of which were unearned, and no hits in 11/3 innings.

Briefly

Snodgrass, the Gatorade state player of the year, also cleaned up in the North-South skills competition. The Youngstown State signee won the home run derby, smacking four round-trippers, and the overhand (67 mph) and underhand (60.8 mph) throwing contests. ... St. Albans' Davis took the bunting competition, accumulating 40 points out of a possible 50 ... Daniels won the 20-yard dash (home to first in 2.78 seconds), Bias took the 60-yard dash (home to third in 5.56 seconds) and Frye won the accuracy throw. ... Southall pitched in all three games for the North. ... The all-time series, which began in 1993, is now tied at 20 wins apiece.

Reach Tommy R. Atkinson at tatkin...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-4811.