A torrential downpour wreaked havoc causing Moorefield Junior League Baseball All-Stars to find a goose egg after the postponement.
Martinsburg Junior League All-Stars pitcher Liam Coe tossed a no-hitter in a 10-nil shutout over Moorefield to claim the fourth straight West Virginia Junior League District 6 Championship at Oatesdale Park in Martinsburg.
Coe recorded seven strikeouts and issued five walks in the no-hitter championship appearance repeating last year’s no-no state bid.
It was tough for Moorefield having limited time after the area tournament to prepare for the district tournament without the proper rest, but the team pressed on and battled back in the runner-up game.
Moorefield Examiner
Moorefield looked to make some magic in the first inning with bases loaded, but that plan fizzled as Coe pitched out of the jam with a strikeout.
Moorefield started the championship with back-to-back walks from Coe given to Hunter Wimer and Brantley Crites.
Coe countered with a strikeout to Dakon Taylor and jammed Jake Baldwin into a pop-up.
Moorefield loaded the bases on a walk to Keaton Watts, but the full pond of ducks were stranded on a strikeout to Eastyn Haines.
Moorefield pitcher Eli Kidwell issued a free pass to Martinsburg leadoff batter Dayon Fischer, then induced a groundout from Coe which was fielded by first baseman Eastyn Haines.
Mason Blauch drew a walk after a steal by Fischer to put runners on the corners.
Martinsburg’s Easton Spry notched an RBI sacrifice fly caught by second baseman Jake Baldwin for a 1-nil edge.
Eli Henderson ripped an RBI single into left field for a 2-0 lead.
Evan Deeds received a walk and Hudson Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Martinsburg, but Moorefield got out of the jam as Kidwell recorded a strikeout on Bentley Drewery.
Moorefield went down in order in the second inning as Eli Kidwell struck out, Will See grounded out and Zack Harvey popped out.
Martisnburg’s Rosier was issued a walk, then Cole hit a sharp grounder into left field for a single.
Harvey caught a fly ball as the runners stayed put.
Moorefield catcher Dakon Taylor fired the ball to third baseman Keaton Watts for a pickoff out, then Anthony DeMarco singled on a blooper along the right field line and the runners were left aboard on a fly out to Wimer.
Moorefield couldn’t get on the base path as Roy struck out before Eye and Wilson grounded out.
Coe drew a walk, then Blauch flew out to Wimer in the third inning for Martinsburg.
Spry tapped an RBI single down the left field line with an argument from the Moorefield coach trying to make a point that the ball landed in foul territory to no avail.
Henderson and Deeds garnered singles to load the bases.
Smith hit an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 4-0.
Drewery hit into a fielder’s choice out at home plate thrown by Kidwell, then Moorefield attempted a double play as Taylor’s pass eluded Haines at first base and the recovery almost got a rundown out at third base after a run scored with a dive back to third base just avoiding the tag, 5-0.
Moorefield shortstop Brantley Crites corralled a line drive to end the frame.
After a flyout by Wimer, Moorefield got on bases with a walk to Crites in the fourth inning.
Coe sandwiched two strikeouts to Taylor and Watts around a free pass to Baldwin to strand the runners.
Moorefield pitcher Will See jammed Cole into a pop-up, then allowed a single from Jackson into right field.
Martinsburg’s DeMarco hit into a fielder’s choice and the infielder’s foot was off the bag, then the runner was caught in a rundown by Taylor as DeMarco moved to second base on the sequence.
See walked Fischer after a stolen base to put runners on the corners.
Coe hit a grounder to Haines at first base with nobody covering the bag which allowed a run to score, 6-0.
Blauch launched a two-run producing double into center field and Wimer’s throw home nearlygot the second runner as the swipe by Taylor just missed as Martinsburg took an 8-0 lead.
See induced a groundout by Spry to end the inning.
Moorefield’s Eastyn Haines was jammed into a pop-up to commence the fifth inning and Martinsburg’s second baseman Blauch made a sliding catch.
Coe tossed a strikeout to Kidwell and jammed See into a pop-up to Fischer to retire the side.
Moorefield backup catcher Jake Baldwin grabbed some sunflower seeds just before catching during a break in the action to confirm a pitch count for Coe at 74 total.
Henderson singled for Martinsburg and advanced on a balk, then Deeds dashed to second base on a hit to right field with the throw going awry at third base.
Smith recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to give Martinsburg a 9-0 lead.
After a grounded out, Rosier got a wicked hop on the game-winning RBI single as Martinsburg took the District 6 championship banner 10-nil over Moorefield.
Moorefield fought back to earn a trip to the state tournament on Friday with a 12-4 win against Morgan County in the runner-up contest.
