Wheeling Park No-Hit in Game 2 Class AAA Regional Final Loss to Morgantown
Patriots walk 11 in 14-0 rout vs. Morgantown
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WHEELING -- Wheeling Park struggled to find the strike zone and baserunners Tuesday.
With a chance to clinch a spot in the state tournament in Game 2 of the W.Va. Class AAA Regional Final, the Patriots walked 11 batters and were no-hit by Morgantown's Caleb Taylor.
The Mohigans won the five-inning contest 14-0 at Patriots Field to force a Game 3 today in Morgantown with the winner advancing to state.
"Our guys came to play (Tuesday)," Morgantown coach Mark McCarty said. "We feel good about that. We had a no-hitter out there and we played good defense. That's a good baseball game for us."
Taylor struck out five and walked four. He retired the first eight batters of the contest before walking No. 9 hitter Maison Richardson.
"My curveball worked really well (Tuesday)," Taylor said. "I just wanted to go out there, throw strikes and let my defense do what they do best."
Taylor is no stranger to no-hit performances this year as he quieted Steubenville's bats in April.
"He was on," Park coach Steve Myers said. "He has two pitches that he can command really well. Hats off to him. He did a good job."
Park starting pitcher Dylan Gongola issued four walks in the first inning as nine Mohigans came to the plate and five scored.
Erik Cover and Tristan Curry combined for seven walks in relief.
"I think anytime you fall behind and you're not able to execute pitches -- it's tough with this lineup," Myers said. "We know it's a good lineup over there and it didn't go our way (Tuesday) but I believe in these guys. They'll be prepared (today)."
Following a bases-loaded walk to give Morgantown a 1-0 edge in the first, Charlie Kerzak laced a two-run double to left. Gavin Cottle and Zach Brennan plated the final two runs of the frame.
"I was really happy with the way everybody played," Taylor said. "We had some people in slumps and they got out of it (Tuesday). I was really happy with the five runs in the first inning. I liked pitching with that lead."
Trouble for Park continued in the third as Quentin Smith drove in two runs on a line drive down the third base line to extend the cushion to 7-0.
If there was any doubt, it was removed in the fourth as Morgantown doubled its lead with seven more runs to secure the 14-0 upperhand.
Preston Fox brought home a run on a squeeze bunt and in the midst of his stellar outing on the hill, Taylor delivered a two-run single.
Despite the loss, today is a new day for the Patriots as its winner-take-all in Game 3.
"Our message is always to win the series," Myers said. "Whether it was 2-0 or 14-0, the series is still in front of us. It's like a Game 7. These guys have probably been thinking about this since they were little. I think we'll be ready to go."
It will be a battle of seniors on the mound today as McCarty is electing to start Colton Matthews and Myers is going with Ryan Hummel.
"We still have some pitching left," Myers said. "Senior Ryan Hummel is going to start on the mound. I think he'll embrace it. He wants the ball and we will be ready to go."