The Yellow Jackets buzzed around the field with ten hits and defensively thwarted the Tucker County invasion as Hayden Baldwin pitched a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts creating a 10-0 five-inning shutout victory during the opening round of the Class A Region II Section 2 baseball tournament at George Hott Field on Monday.
“We are right where we want to be with this win. Our guys played very well and have confidence,” Moorefield coach Wade Armentrout noted.
Starting the game, Baldwin induced a groundout by Mountain Lions leadoff batter Shayne Liller to second baseman Thomas Williams with the throw to first baseman Blake Watts.
Tucker County went down in order as Baldwin finished the side with strikeouts to Cameron Wamsley and Christian Purnell.
The Yellow Jackets secured two baserunners on two hits in the first inning, but they were left aboard.
Moorefield leadoff batter Brent Moran singled into right field off Tucker County pitcher Jordan Moss.
Moran led Moorefield with three hits in this playoff game against the Mountain Lions.
Garett Haggerty followed with a bunt single which was corralled by Moss without a chance for a play.
Watts hit into a fielder’s choice out by third baseman John Gherman, then Jake Ours popped out to Liller at shortstop and Baldwin grounded out to Gherman.
In the top of the second inning, Baldwin fanned three consecutive Mountain Lions as Gherman, Augustus Mullennex and Shane Humphrey all went down swinging.
Moorefield’s Isaac Van Meter got the offense started with a single down the third base line, then Lane Ours garnered an RBI double into center field for the initial 1-nil edge and advanced during the throw home.
Grant Keller connected for an RBI groundout putting the Yellow Jackets up 2-0.
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After a flyout by Williams in right field, Moran singled near the same spot and Haggerty drew a walk before both were stranded on a flyout by Watts center field.
The third inning was quick for Tucker County as Baldwin hurled another three strikeouts to Byron Gidley, Moss and Wesley Snyder.
The Yellow Jackets scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning which started with Jake Ours swinging on a third strike and the ball eluding the catcher giving time to arrive at first base.
After a groundout by Baldwin moved Ours, Van Meter took a walk on four pitches and Lane Ours sent the runners up on a groundout.
Jake Ours took advantage of a wild pitch, coming across home plate for a 3-0 lead.
Keller was given a free pass as Moorefield now had runners on the corners for Williams hitting an RBI single into left field.
Keller swiped third base and scored on a balk, then Moran notched an RBI single on a blooper into left field to create a 6-0 advantage.
An error by Liller allowed Moran to take third base and Snyder came in to pitch for the Mountain Lions.
Haggerty hit a groundout to third base ending the inning.
Tucker County’s lone hit was a single by Liller down the first base line in the fourth inning, but couldn’t be sent home on two strikeouts and a groundout.
Watts doubled into center field to commence the bottom half of the inning before Jake Ours grounded out.
Moorefield’s Matt Mongold was issued a walk by Snyder after a steal by Watts as the Yellow Jackets had runners on the corners once again.
Mongold stole second base, then Moorefield’s Jaydon Moore struck out on a full-count after fouling off five pitches.
A balk by Snyder advanced the runners which sent Watts to home plate for a 7-0 lead.
Ben O’Neill drew a walk on four balls for the Yellow Jackets and swiped second base.
Mongold slid home on a passed ball just beating the tag by Snyder and the Yellow Jackets attack continued as Keller smacked an RBI single into left field for a 9-nil score.
Williams was hit by a pitch and both runners were stranded on a flyout by Moran.
Tucker County went down in order during the fifth inning as Mullennex grounded out to Williams, Humphrey struck out and Gidley grounded out back to Baldwin.
Haggerty knocked a sharp grounder to Liller that ricocheted off the glove to enable a base on error.
Watts and Jake Ours were given walks by Snyder to provide the Yellow Jackets with a bases loaded situation.
Mongold garnered the game-winning RBI single into right field plating Haggerty for the 10-0 final.
Moorefield took extra batting practice after the game and had the day off on Tuesday due to a water logged field in Franklin causing a postponement.
The Yellow Jackets greeted Pendleton County on Wednesday for the second round of tournament action.
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