Delivering seven strikeouts and a grand slam to punctuate the final score, East Hardy was led by seniors Clay Skovron and Brett Tharp in the 15-2 five-inning victory on senior night over the Golden Tornado in Baker on Friday night.
“Overall it was great. We have been waiting for games like this all year and we finally got to see one,” East Hardy coach Eric Heflin stated.
“It is nice to have this momentum going into the sectional tournament next week. It was good coaching these seniors. I had them for a year or two in junior league, then got them started their sophomore year and head coach their junior year. It’s been nice watching them grow and get better as the years go by.”
East Hardy pitcher Clay Skovron tossed a complete game with seven strikeouts and allowed two hits by Class AA Keyser, while Cougars shortstop Brett Tharp crushed a grand slam to seal the mercy rule win.
“It’s an amazing feeling getting the win on the mound, but just seeing the young players come together in the end of the season and getting them ready for next year and for years to come just makes it all worth the while,” East Hardy senior Clay Skovron commented.
“I bleed green and gold. It’s been instilled in me watching my older brothers play on the field and being with them to now here I am on senior night.”
Skovron and Tharp were honored prior to the game along with right fielder Josh Snapp in a special senior ceremony.
“It feels amazing. It’s an amazing feeling to have senior night. This is my last year playing baseball and it feels amazing,” East Hardy senior Josh Snapp noted.
Skovron started the game hurling strikeouts to Keyser’s Evan Moreland and Ryan Shoemaker before beaning Darrick Broadwater and walking Bradly Rotruck, then leapt to catch the ball on a wicked hop off the bat of Jackson White with a throw to first baseman Adam Baker to retire the side stranding the runners.
East Hardy leadoff batter Logan Whetzel singled on the first pitch from Golden Tornado pitcher Evan Moreland sending a grounder into left field.
Alex Miller reached first base on an error by Keyser shortstop Jackson White and Skovron was issued a free pass loading the bases for the Cougars.
East Hardy’s Brett Tharp plated Whetzel on a fielder’s choice out at second base for a 1-nil edge before Baker flew out to center fielder Ryan Shoemaker.
Christian Dove sliced a two-run producing single down the left field line giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
Moreland collected a grounder hit by Noah Miller for the last out of the frame.
The Golden Tornado placed two runners on the base path to commence the second inning as Skovron hit batters Morgan Little and Mark Hixenbaugh before striking out Liam McKenzie.
Keyser’s Aaron Lyons fired a line drive to Baker, who attempted a double play at second base where Tharp couldn’t reach stretching into the dirt and a run scored to make it 3-1.
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Moreland hit into a fielder’s choice out at second base from Tharp to Whetzel and Skovron ended the side with a strikeout to Shoemaker.
East Hardy went down in order as Seth Smith grounded out, then Snapp and Whetzel struck out.
In the top of the third inning, the Golden Tornado failed to reach base as Skovron tossed a strikeout to Broadwater prior to inducing a pair of groundouts by Rotruck to third baseman Noah Miller and White hit to Tharp at shortstop.
East Hardy’s Alex Miller was given a walk, then Skovron hit into a fielder’s choice.
Tharp took a full-count walk and Baker popped up to the shortstop for the second out with two runners aboard for the Cougars.
East Hardy’s Christian Dove tapped a grounder along the first base line and Moreland snatched it up hurling it past first base into right field giving ample time for two runs to score.
East Hardy’s Noah Miller launched a two-run home run over the center field black monster for a 7-1 advantage.
After a single by Smith, Moreland got out of the inning with a strikeout to Snapp.
Little grounded out to Tharp in the fourth inning, then Hixenbaugh singled into right field with Snapp collecting the ball tossing it to the infield to prevent advancement.
McKenzie hit into a fielder’s choice with Baker throwing to Tharp at second base for the out and the throw back to first base was fielded by Skovron tumbling over backwards on the base with the runner arriving safely.
Lyons drew a full count walk, then Moreland arrived at first base on an error by Tharp and the throw home was late as the Golden Tornado added a run for a 7-2 score and Shoemaker flew out to Dove in center field.
Keyser pitcher Darrick Broadwater allowed a leadoff double by Whetzel landing near the right center field fence, then induced a groundout by Alex Miller.
Skovron ripped an RBI double into left field putting the Cougars up 8-2.
Tharp was hit by a pitch, then Baker punched the ball into a double play fielder’s choice to second base and over to first base ending the frame.
In the top of the fifth inning, Skovron sandwiched strikeouts to Broadwater and White around a walk to Rotruck.
Little sent the ball flying foul by the East Hardy dugout with contact by catcher Alex Miller for interference awarding first base.
Hixenbaugh knocked the ball up the middle to load the bases for Keyser, but McKenzie grounded out.
The Cougars pounced to the base path as Dove reached on an error at third base and Noah Miller singled into left field before Smith bunted for a single with the pitcher having no play anywhere as the bases were now loaded.
Snapp smacked a line drive back to Broadwater on the mound and Dove stayed put on third base with the throw over there.
Whetzel was hit by a pitch sending Dove home to make it 9-2.
East Hardy’s Alex Miller delivered a two-RBI single into left field which extended the advantage to 11-2.
Skovron hit the ball up the middle to help the Cougars load the bases one more time.
For a regular season finale curtain call, Brett Tharp smashed a grand slam to end the game providing East Hardy with a 15-2 victory in five innings.
“It means a lot to help the team, because everybody looks up to me and I’m a team leader,” East Hardy senior Brett Tharp remarked.
“I go out everyday and do what I can do to help everybody out, mostly the underclassmen. They ask for help and you tell them what they did wrong and help them out. I had seen a fastball a little bit outside, so I just took it to right field. It means a lot since it was on senior night and it’s only been my second time hitting a grand slam walk-off. I’m glad I have been here the past four years and I wish I could be here for another four years.”
The Cougars travel to Pendleton County on Monday for the opening round of the Class A Region II Section 2 Baseball Tournament which is a double elimination format with Moorefield and Tucker County playing simultaneously.
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