Moorefield pulled off what no other Class A team has been able to do in the past five seasons, defeat Class AAA Jefferson and did so with a nine strikeout performance of Blake Watts for a 9-1 victory during a doubleheader split losing the opener 5-nil on Saturday at George Hott Field.
The Yellow Jackets won against the Cougars for the first time since 2000 with the previous time coming in 1974 under coach George Hott.
“It’s a good win, especially because of the quality of opponent. We’ve got a lot of respect for Coach [John] Lowery and that program. They’ve got a lot of success and obviously have accomplished a lot of things,” Moorefield Coach Wade Armentrout remarked.
“Now here is a chance for our seniors to really step up and have a big contribution to our program. I thought we recovered well in between games an refocused. It helps out when your pitchers are throwing strikes. Watts and Van Meter did a great job in the second game. We are going to keep improving. All the pieces will continue to fall into place as everybody plays their role and have confidence inter teammates. That team is going to compete for championships at the end of the year and we had a chance to plat them.”
In 1973, Jefferson suffered its first loss as a program to the Yellow Jackets and has grown to become the winningest team in West Virginia culminating in a dozen state championships and 1,267 victories under legendary coach John Lowery.
Including his time at Harpers Ferry, Coach Lowery is third all-time in the nation for coaching victories with a career record of 1,286-330-3.
Moorefield coach Wade Armentrout has won a couple of state titles since 2000, but winning for just the second time in his tenure against Coach Lowery and the Cougars was rewarding for his team.
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Watts started the second game with three strikeouts in the first inning to Jefferson’s Cory Daly (dropped third strike tag made by catcher Lane Ours), Stephen Lee and Cullen Horowicz.
Moorefield leadoff batter Brent Moran garnered a single into left field off Jefferson pitcher David Dinges.
Several pickoff attempts by Dinges failed, then a bunt was dead in the box by Isaac Van Meter before a strikeout.
After a pop-out by Watts and two more pickoff attempts, Moran stole second base.
Jake Ours provided the Yellow Jackets with a 1-nil lead on an RBI single into center field, then stole second base before being thrown out diving back.
Watts struck out Jefferson’s Cory Roman and Taylor Tennant in the top of the second inning, then issued a walk to Isaac Carroll before a pop-up was caught by first baseman Matthew Mongold near the dugout.
Moorefield’s Hayden Baldwin smacked a leadoff double into left field, followed by an infield single by Garrett Haggerty rolling just shy of third base.
Mongold bunted into a fielder’s choice at third base and Derek Hoyt struck out, but stolen bases had runners in scoring position.
Moorefield’s Lane Ours connected for a two-run producing double to the left field fence for a 3-0 edge before a groundout retired the side.
Watts tossed two strikeouts in the third inning and Haggerty caught a fly ball in left field.
Van Meter was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the third inning, then Jefferson put Cameron Winston on the mound.
Watts sliced a single into left field and Thomas Williams came in as the runner, then was thrown out on a fielder’s choice from Jake Ours.
Baldwin notched an RBI sacrifice fly into right field to make it 4-nil.
Haggerty stepped up and launched an RBI triple into right field where Roman had trouble corralling the ball.
Mongold hit a hard grounder to third base which was knocked down and the throw was off the mark creating an additional Yellow Jackets run to go up 6-0.
“I thought the pitching for us in the second game wasn’t as sharp as the first game. I thought their pitchers in the second game threw very well and did a nice job in the first game. We were just fortunate to scratch out a couple of runs,” Jefferson skipper John Lowery remarked.
“We struggled with getting outs. You have to give credit to their left-hander, he did extremely well. I think it is competitive. Moorefield is always ready to play. I know they are Class A and we are Class AAA, but they’re always solid. The first game Jefferson ever lost in baseball was to Moorefield High School, so our rivalry goes back a long ways to Coach Hott. I like playing Moorefield. they make an effort to get the field ready. I respect Coach Armentrout and his program.”
Jefferson pitcher Zac Rose came in and Hoyt connected, but flew out.
Watts sandwiched strikeouts around a flyout in the fourth inning to record his ninth strikeout overall against Jefferson.
Lane Ours opened the frame with a double down the left field line and Chase Anderson came in as the runner advancing to third base on a groundout by Moran, but was left stranded on a groundout and strikeout.
Moorefield relief pitcher Isaac Van Meter allowed a single by Tennant which squeezed past a dive from Moran.
Van Meter countered with a strikeout, then Jefferson’s Michael Jeffries reached on an error with the throw going out of play adding an extra base.
Daniel Brennan hit an RBI sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 6-1, then Van Meter closed the frame with a strikeout.
The Yellow Jackets started the bottom of the fifth inning with Jake Ours jumping aboard when hit by a pitch, then Baldwin ripped a double into right field.
Haggerty garnered an RBI single into center field, then Williams executed a bunt single to load the bases.
Hoyt unleashed a two-RBI single into left field giving Moorefield a 9-1 advantage.
Jefferson had two runners on base with a walk and an error in the sixth inning, but failed to score as Van Meter notched a strikeout and a groundout ended the side.
Moorefield went down in order as Jefferson pitcher Jame Walsh made two strikeouts around a groundout.
Baldwin collected the first groundout of the seventh inning, then Jeffries hit deflected off of Van Meter’s glove and he collected it in time for the out with Watts stretching at first base.
Baldwin collected a grounder by Brennan with the toss to Watts for the final out to seal the historic victory at George Hott Field.
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