HUNTINGTON – A member of the Logan baseball team who is making football his career path created the loudest impact in a Class AA state quarterfinal game with Doddridge County.
Monday afternoon for the WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament at Jack Cook Field on the campus of Marshall University, Rob Ball’s second-inning, two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning erased a 2-0 deficit and the fifth-seeded Bulldogs never recovered while losing 10-3.
“We played well – we came out a little tight, Doddridge is a heck of a ballclub,” Logan coach Kevin Gertz said after his fourth-seeded Wildcats improved to 22-12.
DCHS ends the campaign at 27-9. The Bulldogs started off on the right foot when Luke Rokisky’s two-out, two-run triple scored Brody Brockleman and Caleb Hall for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
DCHS starting pitcher Hunter Hayhurst allowed one hit as Logan failed to move the runner in the home half of the first inning.
Trouble ensued in the second inning – beginning with a lead-off single from Tanner Akers. Hayhurst retired the next two hitters when Hall stepped to the plate and hit a no-doubter off the scoreboard on a ball measured with a 101 exit velocity.
“What people don’t understand, Hall is going to play college football,” Gertz said. “He bench presses 385 and is probably the fifth fastest guy on our baseball team. He is a great kid, and he is a strong kid.”
Two-out lightning continued for the Wildcats as No. 9 hitter Adam Baisden walked then advanced to third on Landon Hall’s single. After Hall stole second, both runners scored on a pitch which began as a wild pitch then escalated into a throwing error – all on the same play.
DCHS sliced one run off the 4-2 deficit in the third inning. Rokisky drove in his third run on a two-single which brought home Hall.
Three Logan relievers then quieted the DCHS offense – allowing just one hit over the final 4 …” innings of scoreless baseball.
Logan starting pitcher Ivan Miller lasted 3 …” innings and maintained his eligibility for Thursday’s semifinal game against Wheeling Central by throwing 74 pitches. Cross Conn then threw another three innings and on 34 pitches while keeping DCHS scoreless.
“When the pairings came with which day we were playing, we knew we had to keep guys under 75 pitches so they could go Thursday,” Gertz said. “And we have done that. We want everybody available. Wheeling Central is unreal, but I think we are as good as they are.”
Even though Logan had runners in scoring position in both the third and fourth innings, the door was still open for the Bulldogs. Logan tacked on an unearned run on Jaxon McClung’s RBI double with two outs in the fifth.
The backbreaker occurred in the sixth inning as Logan scored five times. McClung capped a string of three consecutive singles by driving in his third run of the game.
DCHS coach Nathan Wright utilized four pitchers, including Hayhurst lasting 1 …” innings. Caleb Hall allowed just one unearned run over 2 …” innings of work, while Tristan Swiger and Cal;eb Sutton combined to pitch the final two innings.
WHEELING CENTRAL 2,
JAMES MONROE 1
Top-seeded Wheeling Central used a walk-off pop up single in the bottom of the seventh inning to escape past No. 8 James Monroe 2-1 in Monday’s Class AA quarterfinal round of the WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament.
The Maroon Knights (28-5), who were no-hit through five innings, rallied from a 1-0 deficit with single runs in their final two at bats.
Kade Koroneos’ one-out triple in the bottom of the sixth inning drove home Zayne Rosnick to tie the game at 1-1.
With two outs in the seventh inning, Matt Criniti singled and advanced to second on a throwing error. The next batters walked, one intentionally, and brought Brady Ernest to the plate. Facing a full count two outs, Ernest hit a pop up without being touched by a James Monroe fielder.
Criniti scored from third on the base hit to give the Maroon Knights a 2-1 win.
Steven Brodegard earned the victory after pitching two scoreless innings. He did not allow a hit. Starting pitcher Brayden Cover struck out 12 over five innings of work.
James Monroe starting pitcher Kadyn Hines went the distance, scattering three hits and striking out eight. James Monroe bows out of the postseason at 20-17.
“We knew this would be a challenge – their kid is really,” Wheeling Central coach Todd Cover said. “We knew runs would be at a premium. Luckily we were able to scratch across a run in the seventh.
“James Madison is undervalued. They have a lot of good athletes.”
