Wheeling Post 1 Storms Past Moundsville, 17-7
Murray Sparks Wheeling In Area One Tournament Opener; Post 1 Meets Parkersburg Today
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WHEELING - Not much went wrong for Wheeling Post 1 on Monday night, but a whole lot went right.
The result was 17 runs for #1 Wheeling in a 17-7 victory over #4 Moundsville to begin the first round of the Area 1 Tournament.
Wheeling amassed a dozen hits against Moundsville Post 3, led by cleanup hitter Jackson Murray's three-hit day. Murray drove in three runs, all from a second-inning, bases-clearing triple to center field, scored twice and stole a base in a monstrous day.
"I just went up there trying to see the ball the best I could," Murray said. "I was able to put a barrel on the ball and everything worked out on its own."
Wheeling has plenty to feel good about after their performance Monday, where they checked all the boxes. Three extra-base hits, a relatively modest five runner left on-base, and excellent two-out hitting.
"Early on, we hit the baseball," Post 1 head coach John-Michael Brunner said. "We've been hitting it well all year. Offensively, we did a good job, especially with two outs, we put four runs up with two outs which was big. Not only because of the runs but because we're trying to work the pitcher, that's one of the things we've been trying to work at all season, trying to get these guys into their bullpen. I thought they did that early on, and there late, they just kind of put the ball in-play and made things happen."
Wheeling Post 1 indeed worked Post 3's pitchers, compiling 10 walks in the win.
"They're selective at the plate, they know what strikes are," Brunner said. "They've had good eyes at the plate all year, battled, put together good at-bats. Hopefully we get more of the same tomorrow against a good Parkersburg team."
The tournament game concluded in five innings Monday, on a heads-up play by Jared Marsh. Leading off from third base, his team ahead 16-7, Marsh watched as Moundsville pitcher Zack Conner delivered a pitch which popped out of catcher Martin Cain's glove, rolling between the plate and the mound. Neither the pitcher nor the catcher was quick to move for the ball, so Marsh took off for home.
"First thing I saw was the ball went in front, so I thought the catcher's going to have it," Marsh said. "Then I see him standing back there, pitcher's standing on the mound, that's a green light. Time to go."
Marsh's dash satisfied the run-rule and walked off the game for Post 1, but there was plenty of action leading up to the winning run.
Moundsville took a swift 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Hunter Coulter plating a run with a ground ball smoked past the first baseman.
The lead lasted three batters deep into the bottom of the first. Nate Simon nailed his own RBI single to knot the score at 1-1, and Simon later came around to score on a wild pitch to put Wheeling ahead and never look back. Trey Prather also collected an RBI triple to put the finishing touch on a three-run first inning for Wheeling.
After Simon, Post 1's starter Monday, struck out two batters in the top of the second, Wheeling upped their output in the bottom of the frame, plating four- three from Murray's bases-clearing triple, and another from an Andrew Skadra single to centerfield which scored Murray.
Moundsville cut into Post 1's lead in the fourth, a Drew Murrey RBI single to right field bringing the score to 7-2, but Wheeling's biggest inning was yet to come.
Post 1's patience was on full display in the bottom of the fourth, Wheeling drawing four walks paired with three hits to score five runs and lead 13-2 going into the fifth.
Post 3 fired up to start the inning, scoring five runs of their own to preserve the game and trail by six, 13-7, as Wheeling took their turn back up to bat.
Post 1 quickly loaded the bases, and did not stumble on the finish line. Marsh drew a bases-loaded walk while Quinn Jamison bashed a two-run double down the third base line, putting Wheeling ahead 16-7. Marsh's walk-off swipe of home plate ended the game from there.
Wheeling moves on to play #2 Parkersburg today, while Moundsville will look to regroup against #3 Wellsburg.
Parkersburg 10, Wellsburg 0
Post 15 Parkersburg shut out Post 34 Wellsburg on Monday, securing a 10-0 win in their first round matchup of the Area 1 Tournament.
Brady Swain and Izek Baldwin combined to throw the shutout, Swain pitching three innings and striking out four, while Baldwin equaled Swain's punchout total across two innings.
Post 15 totaled eight hits on offense, Evan Swain putting up a multi-hit day, scoring two runs and walloping a double, Parkersburg's lone extra-base hit Monday.
Collin McCarter, Carter McClain and Bentley Kinzer each tallied two RBI in the victory.