Moorefield senior Garett Haggerty struck out 11 Fighting Irish batters and had a 3-nil run supported lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning in the first game of the Class A Region II Baseball Championship series before it was suspended due to a sudden downpour on Monday and the Yellow Jackets finished with a 6-0 victory on Wednesday to take one step closer to reaching the state tournament.
“The pitching has been phenomenal through the section and the region. I think we only gave up two runs in all of it and that’s fantastic. The credit goes to coach Stutler, he gets those guys ready for this time of the year.” Moorefield coach Wade Armentrout noted.
Haggerty struck out Notre Dame’s Sam Romano before walking Brent Robinson in the first inning and Elias Gordon flew out to right fielder Thomas Williams.
Garrett Collins reached base on an error as Haggerty slipped on the turf trying to scoop the ball up, but a strikeout to Hunter Emerson ended the side.
Notre Dame pitcher Elias Gordon induced a groundout by Brent Moran fielded by shortstop Justin Frazier before striking out Haggerty and Blake Watts.
Haggerty sent the Fighting Irish packing for the dugout on three straight strikeouts to Andrew Rogers, Alessandro Cava and Jeremiah Ritter in the second inning.
“It’s great to be a part of this. I want to make sure everyone has confidence. You have to have confidence and our young kids have stepped up and played well,” Moorefield senior Garett Haggerty noted.
Moorefield’s Jake Ours grounded out and Hayden Baldwin flew out prior to Isaac Van Meter tapping a single past Frazier, but was stranded on a groundout by Lane Ours back to Gordon.
In the top of the third inning, Notre Dame’s Jalen Miller drew a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Romano which Haggerty fielded cleanly this time.
Haggerty struck out Robinson before creating a groundout off the bat of Gordon to Baldwin at third base.
Moorefield’s Grant Keller launched a shot just over the reach of the Fighting Irish center fielder for a double and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Williams.
Moran was given a free pass and stole second base to put runners in scoring position, then Haggerty hit an RBI single with the help of an error as the ball was bobbled by Frazier and the throw to first base went awry.
Watts notched an RBI sacrifice fly and Jake Ours ricocheted the ball into left field for an RBI single giving the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 advantage prior to Baldwin hitting a flyout.
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Haggerty struck out Collins and Emerson in the fourth inning.
Gordon pitched a strikeout to Van Meter, then Lane Ours popped out and Grant Keller grounded out.
Haggerty zoned in on three more strikeouts in the fifth inning, fanning Cava, Ritter and Miller.
Notre Dame relief pitcher Jalen Miller stepped up to the mound and was hit right away as Williams doubled as the ball eluded a diving catch attempt in left field.
After Moran popped out, Mille struck out Haggerty and Watts was out on a dropped third strike.
It started to rain as Haggerty walked Romano in the sixth inning.
After a walk to Robinson, Haggerty threw out Romano trying to steal third base with Baldwin making the tag and Moorefield sent in closer Derek Hoyt to finish the game.
Moorefield catcher Lane Ours caught Robinson trying to steal second base with a toss to Moran and Hoyt retired the side with a strikeout to Gordon.
Miller issued a walk to Jake Ours, then a timeout was called as the rain came down hard causing some puddles and the umpires called the game even though it stopped just as everybody left the complex.
Notre Dame returned to Moorefield on Wednesday to finish the game after it was postponed the previous day.
Play resumed on Wednesday with Moorefield up 3-nil and Ours on first base with no outs and Baldwin drew a walk giving the Yellow Jackets a scoring opportunity.
Van Meter knocked the ball into left field for an RBI single to boost the lead, 4-0.
After a flyout by Lane Ours, Keller singled on a blooper near third base line to load the bases.
Williams notched an RBI single sending the ball on a flight into right field to extend the advantage, 5-0.
Moran hit an RBI sacrifice fly with Van Meter tagging on the play to come home for a 6-0 score and Haggerty went down swinging.
Collins singled off Hoyt in the seventh inning for the Irish, but Hoyt countered with a strikeout to Emerson, then Williams caught a fly ball from Rogers and the game ended with a strikeout by Hoyt to Frazier.
The Yellow Jackets capped off the Class A Region II Championship series against Notre Dame in Bridgeport on Thursday.
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