Weir baseball team heads to Game 3
BERKELEY SPRINGS — After a rough outing Tuesday to start the Class AA, Region I baseball best-two-of-three championship series against Weir, Berkeley Springs found new life on its home field Wednesday.
The Indians used some timely hitting and tough pitching to earn a 7-3 win, forcing Game 3 tonight in Weirton.
“Overall, obviously the outcome was a lot better than it was yesterday,” Berkeley Springs coach Les Morris said. “We knew we were going to wake up today a new game, our field. They were hot yesterday. We had an effective pitcher today, and we knew if he’d hit his spots, we’d be just fine.”
In the first, pair of free passes put Michael Mills and Christ Gillette on board for the Red Riders in the first, and Mills eventually came in to score on a throwing error that allowed Jordan Allen to reach.
Weir added a pair of run to take a 3-0 lead in the second after Gillette shut down the Indians on the mound in their half of the first.
Adam Cowden led off with a ground-rule double to center and scored on a single through the gap on the left side by Donavan Spencer. A single to left off the bat of Mills brought Spencer in to score, capping the scoring for the Red Riders.
“I don’t think we were as solid offensively as we were yesterday. That’s an obvious point,” Weir coach Jason Angle said. “We had some situations where we had runners on and couldn’t bring them in, and a couple defensive blunders – passed balls, a couple errors — it changed the situation drastically.”
From there, it was all about the Indians.
Berkeley Springs evened the score in the bottom of the inning with one swing of the bat.
With two out, Ayden Lackey singled, and Colby Farris doubled, driving on Lackey on a hit-and-run. Hunter Andrick sent the ball over the left-center fence for a homer, tying the game at 3.
“Timely hitting is obviously very important in baseball, and when we got men in scoring position. …We got the men in scoring position by running and stealing, moving on their pitcher. Catcher didn’t have the strongest arm. He played the position well, but we were basically stealing on the pitcher with the high leg kick and we were able to freely go,” Morris said. “By advancing men to scoring position, we were fortunate to get some hits and bring them on in. And a couple passed balls, too, which pressure on the catcher, pressure on the other team.”
On the mound, Berkeley Springs pitcher Brandon Keenan settled down, giving up just a walk, fielder’s choice and single in the final four innings.
“Brandon hit a spot in the mid-season where he had two outings where he didn’t do very well. Other teams got on him quick. But since then, I think it might be four outings in a row he’s thrown complete games, and they’ve all been victories” Morris said.
Keenan utilized a great offense behind him, striking out just three in his complete-game win, and that great offense was led by center fielder Tobin Whittington, who seemed to pull in anything around him.
“I firmly believe Tobin is one of the best center fielder’s in the whole state. Defensively, he’s lights out, makes very few defensive mistakes. I think he’s got two errors on the whole season, and he’s tracked down a lot of balls. I really wish I could have filmed him all year long and made a highlight film for him because he’s made some great catchers. Keeps us in ballgames when he plays defense like that,” Morris said.
The Indians added three more in the third, taking a 6-3 lead.
Andrew Butts doubled down the right-field line to start off their half of the inning and went first to third on a fielder’s choice by Whittington. Butts eventually scored on a ball that got away from the catcher.
“The spirit that this Berkeley team played with today, the way they came back, we put that in their heads. They’re going to come ready to play (today),” Angle said. “It’s going to be a brand new day, and we gotta play up to that level again (today). We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Again with two outs, Berkeley Springs found its offense. Justin Stone was issued the intentional pass and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. A liner to left by Michael Hovermale for a single drove in Stone, and an errant throw allowed Hovermale to cross.
Berkeley Springs capped the scoring in the fifth when Hovermale singled to left, stole second, moved to third on a throwing error on the play and scored on a wild pitch.
With a roughly four-hour trip ahead of the Indians, Morris is just hoping the momentum stays in their favor.
“Both of us had to do it, and unfortunately, they were the three seed and we were the four see,” Morris said. “We have to go on up there. It didn’t work out well for us (Tuesday), but you know, they came down here today. They’ve got a long ride home, and then my guys got momentum today. I like my chances. Hopefully, the weather holds off.
“We’ll get their three pitcher, and I’m going back to my one pitcher because he wasn’t effective at the beginning of the game yesterday. I haven’t completely up my mind who I’m starting, but I have everybody available except for Brandon, who’s my No. 2. I’ve got pitching. Pitching’s not an issue as long as my guys hit their spots, and the sticks operate. I don’t know what they’ve got the No. 3 pitcher, but we’re going to find out. The No. 1 and No. 2 were good. We just happened to be on today.”