MORGANTOWN – Buckhannon Post 7 scored their biggest win in recent memory as they upset host and Area 2 champion Morgantown Post 2 by a 5-3 score Tuesday evening on day one of the 2022 West Virginia American Legion double-elimination baseball tournament at Dale Miller Field.
“Someone ask if I was shocked about the outcome,” remarked Buckhannon Post 7 general manager Kevin Boring. “If you were in our inner group of players and coaches the last three weeks I would say no. We have been playing good ball during that time. We have talked all season to the boys about taking each at bat pitch-by-pitch, working counts and not getting down when a mistake is made. The boys are applying that, staying positive and picking their teammates up. We are a much better team today than we were when season started. The boys that have stayed with it this season are learning the benefits of a selfless, team first attitude.”
Buckhannon earned the victory behind the solid pitching of Brady Hurst. Hurst threw a complete game, giving up just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven. He improved his record to 5-1.
“I thought Brady pitched a solid game. He mixed it up well and limited walks,” said Boring. “We also got some timely hitting from our two through five hitters and we also limited our fielding and base running mistakes. I was pleased it was our best game of the year to this point.”
Morgantown drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning when Park Croyle singled home Ty Montague to give Post 2 a 1-0 lead.
Buckhannon took their first lead in the top of the third with three runs using some two-out magic.
With two outs and nobody on, Ryder Aman drew a walk and Eli Bryant followed with a single.
Landon Marple singled home Aman and Grant Mealey continued the inning with single loading the bases.
Zach Calef-Boring singled home Bryant and Ryan Snyder was hit by a pitch which brought home Marple giving Post 7 a 3-1 advantage.
Jacob Kennell opened the bottom of the third inning for Morgantown with a single and later scored on a fielder’s choice by Montague making it a 3-2 game.
Buckhannon extended their lead to 5-2 in the top of the sixth inning after a two-run single by Bryant. Morgantown scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a 5-3 contest but Hurst set down Post 2 batters in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
Post 7 outhit Morgantown by a 10-8 margin as Bryant and Calef-Boring each had three hits.
Buckhannon improved to 14-17 while Morgantown fell to 17-15.
In the other two day one games, Parkersburg Post 15 beat Berkeley Post 14 by a 4-2 score and South Charleston 94 beat Bridgeport Post 68 by a 9-4 score.
Buckhannon will now play South Charleston Wednesday in the winner’s bracket at 7 p.m.
The boxscore:
Buckhannon 003 002 0 — 5
Morgantown 011 001 0 – 3
E – Buckhannon 1, Morgantown 0. DP – Morgantown 1. LoB – Buckhannon 8, Morgantown 7. 2B – Donnen, Croyle. Sac. – Aman, Walters.
Hitting
Buckhannon Post 7 – Ryder Aman cf, 2 2 1 0; Eli Bryant rf, 4 1 3 2; Landon Marple ss, 4 1 1 1; Grant Mealey 3b, 3 0 1 0; Zach Calef-Boring 2b, 4 0 3 1; Ryan Snyder 1b, 3 0 0 1; Ian Donnen c, 4 0 1 0; Brady Hurst p, 3 0 0 0; Peyton Bennett lf, 2 1 0 0. Totals 29 5 10 5.
Morgantown Post 2 – Jacob Kennell lf, 4 1 1 0; Cody Thomas ss, 4 0 1 0; Aaron Forbes 3b, 4 0 2 0; Zachary Brennan rf, 4 0 0 1. Tommy Montague dh, 4 1 1 0; Caleb Cottle 1b, 2 0 1 0; Jarrett Walters 2b, 1 1 0 0; Park Croyle c, 3 0 2 1; Kayson Nealy cf, 3 0 0 0; Tyler Furbee p, 0 0 0 0; Domenic Colasante p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 29 3 8 2.
Pitching
Buckhannon Post 7 – Hurst (W, 5-1): 7 innings, 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts.
Morgantown Post 2 – Furbee (L): 3 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 1 hit batsman (Snyder); Colasante: 4 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 1 strikeout.
Tournament Results and Schedule
Tuesday
Parkersburg 4, Berkeley 2
South Charleston 9, Bridgeport 4
Buckhannon 5, Morgantown 3
Wednesday
Berkeley Post 14 vs. Bridgeport Post 68, 1 p.m. (Elimination Game)
Parkersburg Post 15 vs. Morgantown Post 2, 4 p.m.
Buckhannon Post 7 vs. South Charleston Post 94, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Berkeley Post 14/Bridgeport Post 68 winner vs. Buckhannon Post 7/South Charleston Post 94 loser, 1 p.m.
Parkersburg Post 15/Morgantown Post 2 winner vs. Buckhannon Post 7/South Charleston Post 94 winner, 4 p.m.
Loser’s bracket finals, 7 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 1 p.m.
“If” game, 4 p.m.
