7 days ago
CHARLESTON HUSTLE: Morgantown High sweeps Wheeling Park for trip to state tournament
MORGANTOWN — It's a three-hour drive from Morgantown to Charleston.
The Morgantown High School baseball team might choose to walk instead.
MHS used nine walks, timely hitting and a dazzling pitching performance to beat visiting Wheeling Park 7-3 on Thursday in the second game of the Class AAAA Regional Championship series.
With the win, the Mohigans (26-10) make their second-straight trip to the state tournament hosted at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston.
'Obviously, we were able to take advantage of some things they gave us,' MHS head coach Pat Sherald said. 'We were really fortunate to be able to put up seven runs in that situation.'
After loading the bases in the first inning and watching the Patriots (23-12) wiggle out of that situation, the Mohigans sent nine batters to the plate in the second. Walks played a big part in a three-run inning for MHS as it drew five walks in the frame.
Senior Weston Mazey provided the big hit in the inning as he hit a two-run double to left field that snuck just pat the out-stretched glove of the Wheeling Park outfielder. Mazey later scored on a wild pitch to give MHS a 3-0 lead.
'In that situation, I am just trying to get a ball in the air to score a run,' Mazey said. 'I got one in the air, and it ended up dropping and getting away (into the corner) so that was nice to score those two runs.'
The Patriots, who finished the game with five hits to MHS' three, tied the game in the top of the third inning. Kolten Whitmire had an RBI single while Jaxon Updegraff added an RBI sacrifice fly and Whitmire scored when Nate Simon reached base on an error.
'We tied the game in the top of the third and we had our chances,' WP head coach Steve Myers said. 'We put guys on for free and that is never a good recipe.'
MHS took the lead right back in the third inning as Mazey once again provided the offense with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field. Ryan Nipper scored later in the inning when Mason Bowers reached base on an error for a 5-3 lead.
The Mohigans finished their scoring in the fifth inning as Koa Silvers hit a sacrifice fly that scored Mazey and then Nipper scored as Bowers reached base on another error. Wheeling Park committed three errors in the game with two of those coming on what should have been the third out of the inning.
While the Wheeling Park pitchers were struggling to find the strike zone, MHS starter Maddox Boggs had no problems.
Boggs pitched all seven innings with four strikeouts, five hits allowed and just three walks.
'Maddox really went out and competed for us,' Sherald said of his sophomore pitcher. 'He held a really good team to three runs, and I am just really proud of his effort. He maintains composure, competes and three strikes for us.'
This is the first time in school history that the Mohigans have made the state tournament in back-to-back seasons.
MHS will play a yet to be determined opponent on Friday in the Class AAAA semifinals.
— Story by Eric Herter
Morgantown 7, Wheeling Park 3WP 003 000 0 – 3 5 3
MHS 032 020 X – 7 3 2
