Parkersburg South’s Eli Davis, right, slides ahead of the throw to Woodrow Wilson catcher Gage Price during a five-run first inning in Monday’s Class AAAA South Region opener at Hank Greenburg Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG – Parkersburg South baseball gave Hank Greenburg Field a proper sendoff.

With the Patriots getting ready to move into a new ballpark at Erickson All-Sports Facility next season, they entered the postseason phase of their season Monday with a 14-1 win in five innings over Woodrow Wilson.

“I have been at South for 10 years and Hank Greenburg Field has been a part of the program since – I’ll miss it, but I won’t miss it,” South coach Bryan Youngblood said. “It’s kind of one of those bittersweet moments. It’s something to look forward to – that was my summer job coming out here and mowing this thing.

“It has a sentimental value, but I can’t wait for the turf.”

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning, South turned the affair into batting practice – scoring five runs in the home half of the first on five hits then applying the exclamation mark with a nine-run fourth inning as eight of the 15 batters who made a plate appearance contributing one hit.

Seven of the nine in the South lineup enjoyed a multi-hit day, including Eli Davis and Jackson McVey both driving in a pair of runs.

South leadoff hitter Jackson McVey went 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored. He opened the fourth inning with a little league home run when the center fielder overran a base hit and allowed the ball to roll to the fence.

The Patriots, who improve to 11-22 and advances to Tuesday’s meeting at George Washington, finished with 13 hits in only four innings.

“We can hit the ball,” Youngblood said. “This year, we have had the timely hits when we needed to answer. When we answered with five runs in the first inning, that was huge. That kept the momentum going.”

On the mound, South stuck with the youth movement for the postseason opener. Freshman Bronson Linville earned the starting nod and lasted 1 �…” innings before control problems started to rear its ugly head.

With one out and bases clear in the second inning, Linville walked three batters in succession. A mound visit resulted in first baseman Carter Fluty to enter in relief. The sophomore was effective to say the least – facing only eight batters while covering three scoreless innings.

On his very first batter, indecision cost the runner at third base thinking about coming home on a ball which trickled away from the catcher. The other two baserunners also flinched and a rundown was on at several bases. Eventually, the runner at third base was tagged out.

Fluty then recorded the first of his two strikeouts to end the threat. In the third inning, the South defense gave Fluty a boost with an infield double play.

“Even though I didn’t start the game, I kind of stayed ready,” Fluty said. “You never know what;s going to happen in a game.

“This was one of my better days on the mound. My last game that I threw against Ripley was a decent game that I had.”

With one out in the fifth inning and South comfortably in front 14-1, another sophomore entered the picture. Garrett Cline faced two batters and retired both, including a web gem from right fielder Logan McVey, who made a diving catch, face-forward on a blooper just over the second baseman’s head.

Class AAAA

South Region

At Hank Greenburg Field

Parkersburg South 14,

Woodrow Wilson 1 (5 innings)

WW 100 00 – 1 5 4

South 500 9x – 14 13 0

WP: Carter Fluty 3.0IP 2H 0R 0BB 2SO

Bronson Linville (starter) 1.1IP 3H 1R 3BB 0SO

Garrett Cline 0.2IP 0H 0R 0BB 0SO

Leading hitters:

Woodrow Wilson (7-23): Jackson Gambrell 1-3, run; Will Farrish 1-3, RBI; Gage Price 2-2; 9 1-2

South (11-22): CJ McCartney 2-3, 3 runs; Eli Davis 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Carter Fluty 2-3, 2B; Logan Graham run, RBI; Seth Menarchek 1-2, run, RBI; Peyton West 2-4, 2 runs, RBI; Jackson McVey 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Easton Miller 2-3, run, RBI; Login McVey 2-3, run, RBI

Next game: Class AAAA South Region, Parkersburg South at George Washington, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday