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MARTINSBURG - If Wheeling Post 1 or Wellsburg Post 34 are to claim the championship trophy at the end of the West Virginia American Legion State Baseball Tournament, they will both have to try for it from the loser's bracket.
Having made their way to the eastern panhandle, Post 1 and Post 34 were each handed losses in their opening round matchups. Both will play again Friday with their tournament lives on the line.
CHARLESTON POST 65 6, WHEELING POST 1 3
Post 1 got behind the eight-ball early, surrendering runs in the first and third innings to fall behind 2-0. Wheeling got busy on the basepaths in the fourth inning, with four base runners in the inning. Zade Billings smacked an RBI single through the infield, and Jaxon Murry later came in to score on a passed ball to tie the contest 2-2.
Post 65 responded with a three-run inning in the fifth to retake the lead. Billings knocked another RBI in the sixth, but Post 1 could muster up no further offense. Charleston tacked on a run in the seventh.
Luke Doyle was saddled with the loss, striking out five in four innings while surrendering four earned runs and walking six. Murray doubled for Post 1, their lone extra-base hit. Murray and Billings each collected two hits, as Wheeling was out-hit 9-5 on the day.
Post 1 will recollect themselves and take on Potomac Valley Post 64 on Friday at 10 a.m.
SOUTH CHARLESTON 94 6, WELLSBURG POST 34 0
South Charleston broke through in the fourth inning, a four-run frame, while shutting out Wellsburg's own offense.
Caleb Billick was handed the loss, allowing three hits and issuing two walks over three and a third innings. Five runs came across in his time on the mound, but only three were earned, as Post 34 was stung by five errors in the game.
Gavin Moore came up with Wellsburg's lone hit Thursday. Post 34 will face Berkeley Post 14 on Friday at 1 p.m.