Parkersburg Post 15 opens area tourney with victory
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WHEELING -- Parkersburg Post 15 excelled in all three phases of the game and couldn't have asked for a better start to the Area 1 Legion Tournament during Wednesday's 10-0 win in five innings over Moundsville Post 3.
"I'm happy we scored in every inning and kept the pressure on Moundsville from the start," Post 15 manager Mike Goodwin said. "Our offense has done that all year and that takes the pressure off the pitchers irregardless of the fact they pitched well today."
Dylan Holliday earned the win for Post 15 (27-6) after throwing three innings of no-hit, no-run baseball. Relievers Josh Gribble and Evan Swain put a bow on the win with both pitchers contributing a scoreless inning.
The Post 15 pitching staff came within one out of tossing a no-hitter. The only hit for Post 3 occurred in the top of the fifth inning when a batted ball was sent in the hole between shortstop and second base.
Shortstop Nic Menarchek managed to stop the ball but was fully extended and unable to retire the batter.
Offensively, Post 15 finished with nine hits over four innings. Menarchek and Bentley Kinzer both contributed a pair of hits. Menarchek also scored two runs, stole a base and was credited with an RBI.
Three Post 15 batters doubled, including Brett Haskins, Drew Woofter and Colton Pepper.
In the field, Post 15 turned in a clean game while Post 3 made two miscues in the field.
Top-seeded Post 15 stays in the winners bracket and will meet second-seeded Wheeling Post 1 at 5 p.m. today. Post 15 won both regular season meetings between the two teams.
"After today's game, I told the guys not to look ahead, and we didn't," Goodwin said. "We took care of business, but the game we have been looking forward to is this one against Wheeling. It's what we have been planning for.
"One thing we can't do is look at the two wins during regular season. We've been preaching to the guys this will be a dogfight."
Andrew Manley, who threw one inning of relief in the regular season-finale against Post 1, will get the start for Post 15 after posting a 9-0 record.
"Other than that one inning of relief, we did not pitch Manley against Wheeling on purpose," Goodwin said. "We didn't want them to see him. The strategy is to ride him like we have all year."
Swain and Gribble are both available out of the bullpen, while Holliday will have to rest one day after throwing 39 pitches (including 27 strikes) against Moundsville.
"Holliday pitches to contact, so he gets lot of ground balls and keeps the defense involved," Goodwin said, "Tonight, he did just that."