When it comes to delivering in big situations, the clutch hitting of Moorefield senior Jake Ours has paid dividends amplified against Class AA Berkeley Springs with a three-run home run and the game-winning walk-off RBI triple enabling the Yellow Jackets to squash a rally by the Indians for a 6-5 win at George Hott Field which sparked a celebration dog pile on Thursday.
“This is really a feel good team win. I think the guys recognized that and it starts on the pitching mound,” Moorefield skipper Wade Armentrout commented.
“Isaac [Van Meter] did an excellent job facing a good Berkeley Springs lineup. He just maintains his composure and we fielded the ball better tonight than we had earlier in the week. It was a great opportunity for the top of our order to come up there in that last situation. It was really a win we needed so these guys could gain confidence ending the week and going into the playoffs next week.”
In the top of the seventh inning, the Yellow Jackets had a 5-3 lead and Berkeley Springs fought back as Andrew Butts notched a single off Moorefield freshman pitcher Isaac Van Meter into center field.
Moorefield senior left fielder Garett Haggerty caught a fly ball for the first out, then Berkeley Springs batter Justin Stone smacked an RBI double into right field to cut the deficit to one run.
Mike Hovermale grounded out to Yellow Jackets second baseman Thomas Williams as fans were on the edge of their seats.
Orndorf sliced the ball into right field for an RBI single as the Indians tied the game at 5-all, then Moorefield ended the side on a catch by Ours in center field helping Van Meter in a complete game.
Moorefield leadoff batter Brent Moran sent the ball flying in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Berkeley Springs center fielder T. Cain made a diving catch.
Haggerty grounded out to third baseman Hovermale for the second out, then the Yellow Jackets buzz got loud as Blake Watts was hit by a pitch from Orndorf to represent the potential game sealing run.
Ours stepped up to the plate and smashed the ball deep into left field where it took a bounce by the fence creating the game winning RBI triple walk-off victory.
Just as Watts crossed the plate to excited teammates, the Yellow Jackets swarmed towards Ours led by Moran knocking him down with a huge hug starting a celebratory dog pile.
“It’s hard to breathe once you get down to the bottom of that pile, but it was a good experience. It was a good team win for us. It shows our perseverance as a team and we fought back and got the lead when we needed it, coming back for the win,” Moorefield senior Jake Ours noted.
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Van Meter commenced the game pitching a strikeout to Butts, then Ours caught a fly ball before Stone reached on an error by Ours and the side was retired on a line drive to Watts at first base.
Moran singled for the Yellow Jackets and Haggerty hit into a fielder’s choice made by shortstop Butts.
Wars reached on an error by Butts to put two runners on the base path for Moorefield, but Ours hit into a double play by Butts ending the inning.
In the top of the second inning, Orndorf reached base on an error by shortstop Moran, then the Indians took the initial lead on an RBI double by Ayden Lackey into center field.
Berkeley Springs went up 2-nil as Lackey scored during an error by Moorefield third baseman Hayden Baldwin off the bat of Ferris.
A sacrifice bunt by Speilman to Van Meter notched the first out, then Morris bunted into a double play catch by Van Meter with the throw to Baldwin.
Baldwin singled to start off the bottom of the second inning, but was stranded on pop-outs by Van Meter and Lane Ours plus a strikeout to Derek Hoyt.
Cain singled into center field for Berkeley Springs in the third inning after a groundout collected by Moran.
Stone grounded out to Stone, then Van Meter issued a walk to Hovermale as the Indians threatened before Moran fielded another grounder for the last out.
Moorefield’s Thomas Williams flew out to center field, then Orndorff beaned Moran and Haggerty as the Yellow Jackets started buzzing for a rally.
Ours obliterated the ball into the center field bleachers for a three-run home run giving Moorefield a 3-2 lead.
After a strikeout to Baldwin, it was the Indians turn at-bat in the fourth inning and Van Meter put them down in order jamming the first batter for a pop-up, induced a groundout and tossed a strikeout.
After a flyout by Van Meter, Lane Ours was hit by a pitch and Hoyt made a sacrifice bunt advancing runner Caden Kimble.
Williams garnered an RBI double into left field to put the Yellow Jackets up 4-2 and the inning ended on a strikeout to Moran.
Entering the top of the fifth inning, Morris singled into center field before Moorefield collected two outs as Baldwin fielded a groundout and caught a pop-up.
Stone ripped an RBI double into center field to cut the deficit to 4-3, then Hovermale singled to right field and both runners were left on base on a fly out.
“I expected a close battle. When we were up at our place, we were up 4-1 going into the last inning and we ran out of pitchers in that game. We actually put our number one guy in there and your guys hit him and ended up winning 5-4,” Berkeley Springs coach Chris Davisson stated.
“We knew that your team has had a good season when we came in here. Your guys hit the ball and our guys hit the ball. It was a well-played game all around, very few mistakes. It was a good ballgame. They feed off each other and they’ve been playing together since they were little. When things happen, it fires them up and they play well. We went through a stretch there where we won eight out of ten and six in a row and we have been in close game against good quality teams. We just came up short in the end against a good team. That’s why we put good teams at the end of our schedule, so we’re prepared going into sectionals. I know Isaac [Van Meter] is a freshman and is a good pitcher. He threw well today and located well, but our guys hit when they needed to. We just couldn’t get a couple of key hits at the right time. We had a badly placed bunt directed back to him and they doubled up on us, so we couldn’t get a run in there. It was a well played game by both teams.”
The Yellow Jackets weren’t able to reach base on a groundout, strikeout and flyout.
In the sixth inning, the Indians had one runner reach on an error before being stranded on a catch by Moran.
Baldwin singled into left field for Moorefield, then baserunner Kimble was thrown out on a pickoff at first base.
Van Meter was given a free pass and advanced on a passed ball prior to Lane Ours connecting for an RBI single in center field to put the Yellow Jackets up 5-3.
Hoyt grounded out to third base and Williams struck out to end the inning.
After a rally by the Indians to tie the game, Moorefield answered with the walk-off by Ours for the win.
“They just had a bunch of hits. Before the game started my only advice to them was to have pride in yourself and I could see that in our guys as the game went along tonight. They weren’t going to give in and were just diligent. As long as we went into that last inning with a chance, I felt good about it,” Coach Armentrout remarked.
“Jake [Ours] has been up in a lot of big situations as the whole season went along. He’s the guy that likes to be in that situation. He takes a lot of pride in himself and doesn’t want to let his teammates down. It was a great opportunity as a senior to remember a home game coming up with a big hit. I was excited to see the enthusiasm of the players. You’ve got to have fun. You have to have kids who will enjoy it and like being around each other and this group does.”
Class A Region II Section 2 top seeded Moorefield hosts Tucker County in the opening round of the playoffs on Monday, while East Hardy visits Pendleton County.
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