By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Morgan County was in the driver’s seat up 3-0, then Moorefield’s bats came alive to rally back in the West Virginia Junior League District 6 Tournament runner-up contest for a 12-4 victory to claim a state bid in Martinsburg last Friday.
Moorefield garnered 15 hits with five batters recording two hits apiece in the win against Morgan County.
Moorefield pitcher Dakon Taylor settled down going four innings allowing seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks, then Keaton Watts closed the game with one hit allowed along with two strikeouts and two walks over three innings.
Moorefield started the game with a groundout, then Hunter Wimer drew a walk and Morgan County responded with a strikeout.
Jake Baldwin smacked a single up the middle, but a fielder’s choice off the bat of Keaton Watts got the last out at third base.
Morgan County’s Avery singled into center field, then Taylor jammed the next batter into a pop-up to first baseman Eastyn Haines.
After a walk to Brennan, Morgan County’s Matthew hammered a two-run producing double for the initial 2-0 lead.
Braylon added to Morgan County’s advantage with an RBI blooper single into shallow left field, 3-0.
Taylor responded by pitching back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
Moorefield went down in order during the second inning on three consecutive strikeouts by Brennan to Haines, Eli Kidwell and Will See.
Taylor struck out Kaden, then issued a walk to Aiden before the Moorefield defense turned a double play, Crites catch and throw to Baldwin.
Moorefield’s Zack Harvey launched the ball into center field for a single in the third inning, but was stranded on strikeouts to Tyler Roy and Weston Eye.
Taylor induced a groundout and pitched a strikeout against Morgan County to start the third inning before allowing a single and finishing off the frame with a strikeout.
Moorefield commenced the fourth inning with a single by Wilson ripped up the middle.
Wimer followed with an RBI single on a sharp grounder eluding the second baseman to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Crites kept the momentum going with a laser single by second base.
Taylor belted an RBI single into center field for a 3-2 score.
Morgan County got out of the jam with a strikeout, fly ball and a runner caught stealing third base.
Morgan County jumped on base with a single by Matthew, then Braylon rocked a double into center field and WImer fired the ball home for the tag by catcher Eli Kidwell.
Tommy connected for an RBI bloop single to put Morgan County up 4-2 before Taylor closed the inning with a strikeout.
Moorefield opened the fifth inning with back-to-back singles by Haines and Kidwell.
After a strikeout to See, Harvey executed an RBI bunt single for a 4-3 score.
Brennan answered with a strikeout to Roy and Eye hit into a fielder’s choice out at second base.
Morgan County’s Aiden singled off of Moorefield pitcher Keaton Watts, then Therman hit a line drive to Crites.
Watts fielded a grounder for the second out, then Aiden was picked off at third base.
Wilson and Wimer smacked singles for Moorefield to spark the rally in the sixth inning and a walk to Crites loaded the bases.
Taylor plated Wilson on a free pass from Matthew to tie the game at 4-all.
Baldwin was jammed for a pop-up as the runners stayed.
Watts delivered an RBI single into left field to give Moorefield its first lead. 5-4.
Haines popped out for these second out.
Kidwell smashed an RBI single into center field to extend the lead 6-4.
The rally continued as See and Harvey received free passes plating two more runs as Moorefield took an 8-4 advantage.
Therman pitched a strikeout to Roy to retire the side.
Watts pitched a strikeout, then issued a walk to Avery before Crites caught a line drive and Watts finished off the sixth inning with a strikeout.
Moorefield was looking at two outs on consecutive fly balls to begin the seventh inning, then WImer and Crites drew walks.
Taylor hit an RBI single for a 9-4 lead.
Baldwin was given a free pass to load the bases and the walks kept coming as Watts, Haines and Kidwell took bases plating runs for a 14-4advantage before a strikeout prevented further damage.
Morgan County got on the base path with a walk and one out, then Crites caught a pop-up and the runner was thrown out to end the game as Moorefield advanced to the state tournament in Martinsburg on July 4 with a 12-4 District 6 runner-up spot.
