Typically eight errors in a game spells disaster, yet the Class A No. 4 Yellow Jackets rose above the blunders for a 5-4 win against Class AA No. 6 Petersburg at George Hott Field on Thursday.
There has been a sense of resiliency building throughout the season for Moorefield (11-5) and working to overcome mistakes has created positive outcomes as seen against the Vikings (10-5).
“This is attributed to two really good pitching performances by Hayden [Baldwin] and [Derek] Hoyt. Those guys hold their composure,” Moorefield skipper Wade Armentrout commented.
“They see errors that are happening behind them and just get the ball and get back on the pitcher’s mound, know that they minimize damage. All season long we have been coming back from deficits. We put ourselves in tough situations, but we always seem to have confidence to get ourselves out of it.”
The Moorefield Little League was recognized as team members joined the players on the field for the national anthem.
The Yellow Jackets started the game without any issues as pitcher Hayden Baldwin struck out Petersburg leadoff batter Peyton Sindledecker, then Tyce Wisnewski grounded out to shortstop Isaac Van Meter with throw to Blake Watts and Trad Harman flew out to left fielder Derek Hoyt.
Petersburg pitcher Tanner Champ issued walks to Moorefield’s Brent Moran and Garett Haggerty before recording a strikeout to Watts.
Jake Ours was hit by a pitch as the dugout told him not to rub it and the bases were loaded for the Yellow Jackets.
Moran was forced to dive back to third base as Petersburg catcher Lucas Berg attempted a pickoff, then a passed ball created time for Moran to score for the initial Moorefield advantage.
A free pass was given to Baldwin which loaded the bases again, then Van Meter connected for an RBI single up the middle to boost the lead to 2-nil as Haggerty came home and Caden Kimble came in as the runner.
An errant pickoff throw eluded Petersburg third baseman Tyce Wisnewski doing the splits as the ball went underneath and Ours stretched under the empty the glove to reach the bag, then Wisnewski fell on top preventing a chance to immediately get up.
Moorefield’s Lane Ours struck out looking and Hoyt grounded out to Vikings shortstop Cameron Masih to keep the lead at 2-0.
In the top of the second inning, Petersburg’s Hunter Pool reached on an error as Moorefield third baseman Brent Moran’s throw eluded Watts at first base.
Baldwin notched a strikeout to Chase Ault, then Jacob Hartman hit into a fielder’s choice and the throw by second baseman Garett Haggerty went out of play.
Lucas Berg launched a shot into left field and it was dropped by Hoyt as the Vikings now had runners on the corners.
A passed ball was retrieved by Moorefield catcher Lane Ours, but the throw missed Baldwin’s glove as Hartman scored to make it 2-1 before the side ended on a groundout collected by Van Meter.
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Moorefield’s Matthew Mongold and Brent Moran grounded out, then Haggerty drew a full-count walk before being stranded on a strikeout to Watts by Petersburg pitcher Dawson Tingler.
An error plagued third inning enabled the Vikings to take a 4-2 lead.
Moran caught a line drive for the initial out, then Sindledecker reached base on an error as Van Meter bobbled the ball a little before sending it past Watts.
Wisnewski hit a fly ball into right field and Moorefield’s Jaydon Moore missed the ball on a diving attempt.
Petersburg’s Trad Harman knocked the ball into a fielder’s choice at second base scoring the tying run and the ball eluded Watts on a failed double play.
Pool splashed the ball just off the glove of Jake Ours in center field for an RBI triple aided by the error and Ault smacked an RBI double as the Vikings took a 4-2 edge.
“It was a real good game. I think for both teams the pitching was strong,” Petersburg coach Mike Landis remarked.
“A couple of errors here and there and that was the difference of the game. It was two good clubs playing each other. You get a couple guys on base and we have an error and they score the runs, jump up real quick. That’s baseball, that’s how it goes.”
Tingler issued a walk to Jake Ours in the bottom of the third inning, then Baldwin singled on a grounder into right field and Van Meter took a free pass to load the bases for the Yellow Jackets.
Moorefield’s Lane Ours struck out looking prior to Hoyt hitting into a double play to end the frame.
In the fourth inning, Berg grounded out to Van Meter before Mauzy drew a walk and was stranded on a leaping catch by Jake Ours in center field and a strikeout.
Mongold singled down the left field line past a dive by Wisnewski and Moran singled on a short chopper along the third base line with Berg not having time to make a play as Moorefield had two runners aboard.
Haggerty was given a walk to load the bases for the Yellow Jackets, then Petersburg put Trad Harman on the mound.
Watts notched an RBI on a fielder’s choice out at third base as Moran was tagged diving to the bag with the score at 4-3.
After Harman pitched a strikeout to Jake Ours, the Vikings escaped the inning without further damage as Berg made a pickoff throw at third base.
Wisnewski flew out to Moore in right field during the fifth inning and Harman flew out to Jake Ours in center field before Pool reached base on an error as a short chopper in front of the visitor’s dugout slipped out of Baldwin’s grasp.
Ault garnered a blooper into right center field, but Baldwin countered with a strikeout to Harman retiring the side.
Baldwin flew out to right field and Van Meter grounded out to third base before Lane Ours was given a walk, but the Yellow Jackets couldn’t create a run as Hoyt flew out near the left field fence trailing 4-3.
Hoyt stepped in as as the relief pitcher for Moorefield in the sixth inning and struck out the Vikings in order with just ten pitches, sending Berg, Mauzy and Masih back to the dugout.
“I knew I had to step up for my team and do what I needed to do to get us the win,” Moorefield pitcher Derek Hoyt noted.
“My teammates had my back, so I need to have theirs. It was definitely a confidence booster. I messed up a couple of times earlier in the game and it [strikeouts] boosted my confidence and it helped us out a lot. My smile was ear to ear hearing my teammates shout. It’s going to be a night I won’t forget.”
Harman struck out Mongold to start the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Yellow Jackets rally began with a single by Moran which was saved at third base without time to reach first base.
Haggerty launched the ball into right field and the ball was dropped to create a double on the error.
Moran tied the game on a passed ball and Watts was hit by a pitch as the Yellow Jackets had the go-ahead run at third base.
Moorefield’s Jake Ours sliced the ball into left field for the game-winning RBI single sending Haggerty home, 5-4.
Baldwin hit into a double play to end the frame.
“That was just fantastic, [Hoyt] he is a huge part of their success. He does a great job in the bottom of our order getting on base and in the outfield does a fantastic job tracking down fly balls. When he comes into pitch, he has a really good breaking ball that keeps people off-balanced. We just have to limit our errors. We can’t be a good team consistently night after night if we make errors like that and expect ourselves to overcome that. If we get some base runners on, I know we are going to produce,” Coach Armentrout concluded.
Hoyt returned to the mound to finish the game in the seventh inning.
Sindledecker swung on a third strike and the ball ricocheted off of catcher Lane Ours providing enough time to reach first base to represent the potential tying run for the Vikings.
Hoyt responded with a strikeout to Wisnewski, then Harman popped out to Watts along the fence and Pool’s shot was snatched by Ours leaping in center field to end the game.
The Yellow Jackets found away to push the mistakes behind them and had the resiliency to fight for the victory over Petersburg which is a testament to the character of the squad.
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