Rush Hurls Moundsville Past Weirton, 10-6
Post 3 To Play Wheeling in Area Tourney Championship
MOUNDSVILLE — It hasn’t been the best of summers for the Moundsville American Legion baseball team. However, Post 3 is playing for a championship today.
Moundsville defeated Weirton Post 10, 10-6, in the Area One Tournament elimination game Friday night at Valley Fork Park.
The victory propels Post 3 into the championship round against reigning state champion Wheeling Post 1.
The two teams vie this morning at 10 o’clock. Should Moundsville win, a second game will be needed. Wheeling advances to the state tournament with one win. Moundsville has an automatic berth in the state event, serving as the host team.
Moundsville used a superb pitching effort from Andrew Rush to stave off elimination.
The crafty southpaw logged ironman duty, working all nine innings. He struck out eight, walked four and scattered eight hits. He helped his own cause by blasting a two-run double.
“Andrew pitched a tremendous game,” Post 3 coach Dave Yeater said. “He was in control the entire game. He held up well over nine innings.”
Moundsville, improving to 6-20-1, pounded out 13 hits and took advantage of six Weirton errors.
“We came and played ball. We hit the ball hard in key situations, something we lacked all summer,” Yeater said. “We are a young team. We have lost six games by one run. Tonight was a good win.”
Moundsville scored in six of its eight at-bats. Post 3 put matters away with a three-run eighth inning, taking advantage of four bases-on-balls.
Former Wheeling Central standout Anthony Gentile led the Moundsville attack with a double, two singles while also being walked intentionally. Nate Rush had a double and two RBI in support of his brother.
Brice Bauer delivered a double, single and RBI for the winners while Cubby Varner added a double and single.
Weirton ended the season with a 7-19 mark. Marcus McHaffie had a double, single and two RBI for Post 10. Joey Valero had two singles while Tyler Wright cracked an RBI double.
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