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Wheeling Post 1 Rolls Into State Tournament; Defeats Moundsville, 17-2

Photo by Bubba Kapral The Wheeling Post 1 Team poses for a photo after winning the Area One Tournament.

MOUNDSVILLE — Wheeling Post 1 punched its ticket into the West Virginia American Legion state tournament in resounding fashion Saturday morning.

Post 1 put six runs on the board in the first inning en route to a 17-2 win over Moundsville Post 3 at Valley Fork Park. In the process, Wheeling gained the Area One Tournament championship. The reigning state champions will launch state tourney play Wednesday, facing South Charleston at Valley Fork Park.

Post 3 also gains a state tourney berth, courtesy of serving as the host team.

“It is nice returning to the state tournament. It is even sweeter going back as returning state champions,” Post 1 manager Mark Delbrugge said. “We have a bull’s eye on our backs since we are the champions. That is something we relish.

“We know South Charleston is a powerful team. They beat us twice this season,” he continued. “But we will be ready to play. We are looking forward to it.”

Post 1 will take a 27-11 mark into Wednesday’s contest.

Moundsville, featuring a youth-laden lineup, dropped to 6-22-1. Post 3 will face Romney Wednesday afternoon.

“We just made too many mistakes today. You can’t do that against a good team like Wheeling,”  Post 3 coach Dave Yeater said. “We are a real young team. So playing in the state tournament will be great experience for these kids.”

Wheeling pounded out 17 hits in the abbreviated seven-inning contest.

The biggest blast coming off the bat of Chad Harper. The standout catcher crushed a three-run homer over the left centerfield fence in the fourth inning. He also added a single.

Post 1 leadoff hitter Tyler Ashbrook delivered three straight singles before Delbrugge started massive substitutions. Jarrett Delbrugge slammed two doubles, one plating a run.

Gage Giovengo continued his torrid hitting with a double, two singles and RBI. Butter Murray had two singles and RBI while Soup Campbell knocked in two runs with a single.

Jub Delbrugge earned the mound win via his sharp five innings of work. The talented southpaw struck out seven and walked four.

Frankie Favede hurled the final two frames. He was perfect, retiring all six batters he faced. He recorded one strikeout.

Post 3 used three pitchers. Shane Dobbs started but gave way to Chris Barry in the second. Hunter Keller entered in the fifth.

They combined for two strikeouts and seven walks.

Barry had two of Moundsville’s six hits. He also had an RBI. Also getting hits for Post 3 were Nate Rush, Trey Scott, Steve Bailey and Bryce Bauer.

“We played good fundamental baseball today. We have gotten good pitching the last two games and we are hitting the ball,” Delbrugge said. “It is a good way to enter the state tournament. We will be ready to defend our title.”

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