BRIDGEPORT – While Buckhannon Post 7 came up just short of their goal of a second straight appearance in the state tournament, Post 7 still had a solid showing in the Area 2 Tournament last week.
Post 7 went 2-2 in the double elimination tournament which featured Bridgeport Post 68, Morgantown Post 2, Clarksburg Post 13, Fairmont Post 17 and Elkins Post 29.
Buckhannon Post 7 opened the tournament as the fifth seed and took down the fourth-seeded Clarksburg team in their opener Monday by a 7-4 score.
They moved on that night to play Bridgeport, who was the top seed and received a first-round bye.
Post 7 lost the game in the bottom of the seventh by a 5-4 score.
Zach Calef-Boring, Trenton Hunt, Alfred Isch, Grant Mealey and Isaac Lane each had a hit for Post 7 in the setback.
On Tuesday, in an elimination game, Post 7 held on for a 3-2 win over Elkins.
Elkins took a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first, but Buckhannon answered with three runs in the top of the third for a 3-1 lead behind a three-run double by Calef-Boring. Elkins scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-2 but Post 7 kept Elkins off the scoreboard the final two innings for the win.
Calef-Boring collected two of Post 7’s four hits and knocked in all three runs in the win.
Ian Donnen pitched a complete game for Buckhannon as he allowed just one earned run on eight hits while striking out two.
Buckhannon was eliminated from the tournament later that evening with a disappointing 8-7 setback to Clarksburg.
Buckhannon was up 4-2 early but a five-run third inning by Clarksburg was enough to give them the win. Buckhannon left the bases loaded in the seventh inning.
Post 7 outhit Clarksburg by a 12-6 margin in the loss as Hunt led the team with three hits including two doubles.
Morgantown won the Area 2 Tournament on Thursday with a 10-6 win but both teams will advance to the state tournament which begins this week in Charleston with the four Area champions and runner-ups.
Post 7 wrapped up their 2023 campaign with an 8-13 record.
AREA 2 TOURNAMENT RESULTS
FIRST ROUND (Monday)
Fairmont 4, Elkins 3
Buckhannon 7, Clarksburg 4
WINNER’S BRACKET (Monday)
Morgantown 13, Fairmont 1
Bridgeport 5, Buckhanon 4
ELIMINATION BRACKET (Tuesday)
Buckhannon 3, Ekins 2 (Elkins eliminated)
Clarksburg 14 Fairmont 2 (Fairmont eliminated)
Clarksburg 8, Buckhannon 7 (Buckhannon eliminated)
WINNER’S BRACKET (Tuesday)
Bridgeport 7, Morgantown 3
ELIMINATION BRACKET (Wednesday)
Morgantown 13, Clarksburg 2 (Clarksburg eliminated)
WINNER’S BRACKET FINAL (Wednesday)
Morgantown 10, Bridgeport 7
‘IF’ CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (Thursday)
Morgantown 10, Bridgeport 6
