Parkersburg Post 15 splits series against Post 65 and Post 111 over weekend
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PARKERSBURG -- Following a 13-4 loss where Charleston Post 65 scored nine runs in the last two innings, host Parkersburg Post 15 bounced back to secure a twinbill split with a five-inning 15-3 triumph Saturday afternoon at Bennett Stump Field.
Drew Woofter scattered seven hits and allowed two earned runs with one walk and 10 strikeouts to help lead Parkersburg.
"Two completely different ballgames, admitted Post 15 manager Mike Goodwin, who watched his club draw a baker's dozen free passes and score 10 runs off them in game two. "The first game was very disappointing with regards to our pitching (nine walks) and offensively we had 13 strikeouts.
"With this group that was very surprising to me. I did some direct messaging between games and the kids responded with a good offensive performance, as far as patience at the plate, and who can say enough about Drew Woofter picking the team up with that complete game win for him."
Losing pitcher Eli Ellis and Drew Mehall managed to record just four outs and issued 11 walks as Post 15 took control via a 12-run second where 16 batters came to the plate.
Run-scoring singles by Owen Moore and Gannon Morris gave Post 65 a short-lived 2-0 lead after the top of the first.
Parkersburg was able to tie it up in the bottom of the inning. Brett Haskins and Cade Goode drew consecutive walks and Dylan Holliday, who finished 2 for 4 with four runs-batted-in, produced an RBI single. Gandee scored on a wild pitch to tie it.
Gatlin Donohew and Caden Parker opened the second with free passes and the bases were loaded after Haskins' bunt single to third. Goode, who was the game one loser in relief of starter Josh Gribble, drew an RBI walk as Woofter and Eli Reeves did the same before Holliday delivered a bases-clearing triple to center to make it 8-2. Post 15 scored six more runs in the frame with Woofter collecting an RBI single and Reeves producing a two-run knock. Holliday nearly had his fifth RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly off relief pitcher Brandon Anderson, but Woofter was called out for leaving third too soon as the big inning ended with a double play.
Moore reached on an error in the third and scored on a wild pitch.
Woofter, who struck out the side in the fifth and was aided by a Reeves outfield assist from right for the second out of the first, got one more run of support in the fourth when Goode walked and scored via an outfield error.
In the opener, Post 15 never led and trailed 3-0 after the top of the first thanks in part to a two-run single by Morris.
Brodie Wiggins' sacrifice fly plated Haskins in the last of the first, but the hosts fell behind 4-1 after Micah Osborne launched a solo bomb to left in the top of the fourth.
Post 15 was able to tie it after scoring thrice in the fourth. Holliday and Goode got it started with back-to-back singles and they each moved up a base after a Donohew sacrifice. Carter King followed with a two-run triple to left-center and the game was square after Haskins' RBI groundout.
Parkersburg didn't record a hit after that at Johnny Kirkpatrick went five innings with five walks and 10 strikeouts for the win. Mehall worked two scoreless innings with three punchouts.
Charleston (6-4) led 8-4 after six and tacked on five more runs in the seventh. Moore, Michael Ferrall and Morris each had an RBI in the sixth. Jaeden Anderson, who went 4 for 5, got the seventh underway with a triple to right-center. Grant Krajeski knocked him in. Mehall also had an RBI single and Ferrall tacked on a two-run single.
"The key for us is our pitchers need to throw strikes and Drew did in the second game," Goodwin added. "Offensively we are not hitting the ball real good, but we were selective at the plate and drew a lot of walks. That was key."
Post 15 splits Sunday twinbill
Post 15 and visiting Lincoln County Post 111 traded 5-4 scores on Father's Day inside City Park.
Parkersburg, which will put its 8-5 record on the line at 6 p.m. today at Brooke against Follansbee Post 45, scored the first five runs of game one, but Lincoln County did the same in game two.
Reeves had 10 strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings to earn the win and Nic Menarchek, who went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a pair of doubles, closed out the final 1 1-3. Three errors led to a trio of unearned runs allowed for Goodwin's club.
Haskins doubled and knocked in two, Woofter finished 2 for 4 with two steals and was joined by Reeves and Izek Baldwin with a run-batted-in.
Despite tossing no-hit ball for four frames with a pair of strikeouts, Evan Swain was charged with the mound setback in game two after allowing two earned runs and issuing six free passes.
Menarchek paced the offense by going 2 for 4 again with a double and one RBI. Wiggins also doubled and joined Woofter with Post 15's only other runs-batted-in.