In a pitcher’s duel, Moorefield Post 64’s bats finally came alive breaking the scoreless game in the ninth inning during a 4-1 victory over Beckley Post 32 in the opener of the 28th annual American Legion Pizza Hut Hillbilly Hardball Classic in Elkins at Robin Harvey Field on Thursday morning.
The Hillbilly Hardball Classic featured 30 teams from West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Florida.
Moorefield Post 64 pitcher Blake Watts was strong on the mound throwing seven strikeouts without any walks and allowing only four hits in seven innings of work on 102 pitches.
Beckley Post 32 pitcher Logan Stump was impressive with 15 strikeouts and allowed just three hits going into the ninth inning before two runs scored on an error on a 127-pitch count outing.
There was talk in the dugout about Watts having the right mojo, since he was wearing a blue jersey and that couldn’t be altered for the sake of positive energy.
“I thought Blake [Watts] threw the ball well. It has been awhile since he has pitched. I thought he left the ball down and kept them off stride with his off-speed stuff,” Moorefield Post 64 manager Ritchie Baldwin commented.
“Our bats are not with us right now and I don’t know where they are. They need to find them. We’re lucky that we got some runners on and made Beckley field the ball and throw it away otherwise we’d still be out there. I’m proud of the effort in our first game.”
In the first inning, Moorefield Post 64’s Isaac Van Meter was given a leadoff walk, but was stranded on a pop-up by Jayden Moore and two strikeouts by Stump to Hayden Baldwin and Jake Ours.
Watts took the mound putting Beckley Post 32 down in order sandwiching strikeouts to Isaac Miller and Stump around a pop-up by Kody Williams caught by Van Meter at shortstop.
After a groundout by Watts to begin the second inning, Moorefield Post 64’s Lane Ours received a free pass and stole second base before being left aboard as Jacob Mauzy and Derek Hoyt struck out.
In the bottom half, Beckley Post 32’s Peyton Brown and Tanner Buchanan went down on strikes before Jacob Sheets ripped a single and was stranded on a fly ball from Lane Jordan caught by Moorefield Post 64 left fielder Derek Hoyt.
Van Meter drew another walk in the third inning with one out, but couldn’t be brought home despite reaching third base on a stolen base and a sacrifice by Moore as Baldwin struck out.
Mauzy caught a popup by Beckley Post 64’s Adam Eppling, then Austin Amtower singled into center field collected by Jake Ours before Miller flew out to Ours and Williams flew out to Hoyt.
The top of the fourth inning was quick as Stump fanned Jake Ours, Watts and Lane Ours, yet the bottom half was just as fast as each outfielder for Moorefield Post 64 made consecutive catches starting with Ours in center, then Hoyt in left and Moore in right.
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Mauzy struck out in the fifth inning and Hoyt flew out to Beckley Post 32 center fielder Isaac Miller for the first two outs, then Moorefield Post 64 notched a baserunner as Fisher Wheeler drew a walk and was stranded on a groundout by Van Meter.
Watts struck out Sheets, but Beckley Post 32’s Lane Jordan countered with a single into left field and was stuck on the base past as Jake Ours caught a fly ball and Wheeler collected a ground ball out.
In the sixth inning, Moorefield Post 64’s Jayden Moore stumped Stump’s no-hitter with a wicked hop glancing off the glove of third baseman Jacob Sheets.
Baldwin hit into a double play and Jake Ours struck out ending the frame as the game remained scoreless.
After a groundout and flyout, Beckley Post 32’s Logan Stump smashed a double to the right field fence sailing over Moore and failed to be sent home as Ours caught another fly ball.
In the seventh inning, Watts was out on a dropped third strike before Lane Ours unleashed a double down the left field line and Austin Whetzel smacked a single into left field to give Moorefield Post 64 a very good scoring opportunity.
However, Hoyt showed a bunt attempt and didn’t connect on the ball as Lane Ours was sent home on the play and was tagged out, then struck out denying a run.
Watts went back to work doing his part on the mound tossing two strikeouts and catching a pop-up.
Stump threw curveballs in garnering strikeouts to Wheeler and Van Meter in the eighth inning and Moore flew out in center field as Moorefield Post 64 came up empty.
Moorefield Post 64 closer Derek Hoyt stepped to the mound inducing a groundout to Van Meter before issuing a walk to Amtower, then Wheeler leapt to catch a line drive at second base and nearly created a double play and Moore ran in left field territory for the last out just above the diving attempt of Van Meter.
The excitement began with Baldwin reaching base on an error in the top of the ninth inning, then Jake Ours was hit by a pitch.
Watts executed a bunt and a throwing error created two runs and allowed advancement to third base giving Moorefield Post 64 a 2-nil edge.
That was the curtain call for Stump as reliever Lane Jordan entered the game for Beckley Post 32.
Moorefield Post 64 continued the momentum as Lane Ours crushed an RBI double into the left center gap for a 3-0 lead.
Whetzel was given a walk and stole second base, then Hoyt struck out.
Wheeler was thrown out on a bunt as Ours remained a third base.
Van Meter delivered an RBI single up the middle to extend the advantage to 4-0 and Moore flew out to Stump in shallow right field.
Stump placed a single up the middle for Beckley Post 32 to commence the bottom of the ninth inning off of Hoyt.
A blooper by Peyton Brown was tracked down by Wheeler in shallow right field, but the ball bounced out of his glove for an error.
Beckley Post 32 cut the deficit to 4-1 as Dakota Bowman smacked an RBI single into center field.
Moorefield Post 64 Ritchie Baldwin called a timeout to calm the team down.
Hoyt took heed of the advice and struck out the next batter, then Watts caught a fly ball and Wheeler fielded a grounder for the final out.
Moorefield Post 64 had one more game on Thursday afternoon against Circleville, OH Post 134, then returned to Elkins on Friday against Garrett County, MD Post 214 and Columbia, MD Post 300 with the final game on Saturday against Clearfield, PA Post 6.
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