Gilmer County junior Kolten Holbert, pictured here at a game earlier this season at Williamstown, went the distance and fired a three-hitter with a dozen strikeouts to help lead the fourth-seeded Titans to a 10-3 victory Saturday afternoon against fifth-seeded Greater Beckley Christian in a Class A state quarterfinal at Marshall University's Jack Cook Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

HUNTINGTON — Paul Fox’s two-run triple highlighted No. 5 Greater Beckley Christian’s three-run top of the first, but it was all Gilmer County after that as the fourth-seeded Titans rolled to a 10-3 Class A state quarterfinal victory here Saturday afternoon at Marshall University’s Jack Cook Field.

Titan junior Kolten Holbert (8-3) finished with a three-hitter and struck out a dozen while freshman Roddick Page went 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and three runs-batted-in as head coach Jacob Wolfe’s squad spoiled the first trip to the state tournament for the Crusaders (23-14).

“I think we came out still a little nervous there and Holbert settled in and put up zeroes the rest of the way,” said the Titan skipper.

Gilmer County, which now faces top-seeded Huntington St. Joe at 10 a.m. on Thursday in the semifinals, got going by scoring a pair of runs in the second off losing pitcher Carter Hajash. Brody Beall had a run-scoring single and Seth Stewart, who joined Holbert with a pair of stolen bases, delivered an RBI double.

The Titans tied it at three in the third thanks to Remi Huffman’s RBI single that plated Ashton Hamric.

In the fourth, Lex Grogg doubled and Stewart followed with a bunt single. Holbert’s RBI fielder’s choice put the Titans (27-7) ahead for good and then Page came through with the big blow via a two-run double.

Following the first inning, the Crusaders didn’t get another hit until Luke Endicott’s one-out single in the seventh.

Gilmer County, which saw Holbert retire 16 of the final 18 batters he faced, added on a quartet of insurance runs in the fifth. Page and Tyler Ratliff each had a run-scoring single while Dallas Goodrich had an RBI three-bagger.

Class A state quarterfinal at

Marshall University’s Jack Cook Field

Gilmer County 10, Greater Beckley Christian 3

GBC 300 000 0 – 3 3 1

GC 021 340 x – 10 13 0

WP: Kolten Holbert (8-3) 7IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 12SO

LP: Carter Hajash 4IP, 10H, 6R, 6ER, 4BB, 2SO

Eli Gunter 1IP, 3H, 4R, 0ER, 1BB, 0SO

Hunter Austin 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2SO

#5 Greater Beckley Christian (23-14) hitting: Gunter 1-2 R, SB; Austin R; Paul Fox 1-3 R, 3B, 2 RBis; Luke Endicott 1-2

#4 Gilmer County (27-7) hitting: Tyler Ratliff 1-2 RBI; Holbert R, 2 SB, RBI; Jacob Stewart R; Roddick Page 3-4, 2 2B, 3 RBIs; Dallas Goodrich 2-3 R, 3B, RBI; Ashton Hamric R, SB; Remi Huffman 2-3 RBI; Brody Beall 1-4 R, RBI; Lex Grogg 2-3 R, 2B; Seth Stewart 2-4, 2 R, 2 SB, 2B, RBI

Next game: #4 Gilmer County vs. #1 Huntington St. Joe, 10 a.m. Thursday in a state semifinal.