By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Doddridge County Bulldogs nibbled on the Yellow Jackets starting with a home run en route to a 5-1 victory at George Hott Field.
“[Limiting hits] That’s another indication of how good we are. They are a really good team and they have played some really good teams. Our competition is really good, so our guys are showing the grit we want them to show. When it counted at the end of the season, we are going to be playing well,” Moorefield skipper Wade Armentrout commented.
Moorefield starting pitcher Kail Greenwalt allowed a leadoff single by Doddridge County’s Brody Brockelman, then the Yellow Jackets defense turned a double play off the bat of Tristen Swiger.
The Bulldogs chomped back with a solo home run blast by Caleb Sutton for a 1-nil edge.
Greenwalt retired the side by inducing a groundout.
Moorefield leadoff batter Shawn Reed singled on a chopper just in front of the catcher and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Greenwalt.
Trevor Baldwin flew out as Reed remained at second base.
Moorefield’s Oliver Crites hit a grounder near first base and Doddridge County pitcher Tristen Swiger slid to retrieve the ball and tossed it to first base for the out.
Doddridge County managed one base runner in the second inning, but failed to score with the defense collecting pop-ups.
Ben Watts smashed a double into left field for the Yellow Jackets prior to being stranded on the pond as Swiger countered with three consecutive strikeouts to Blake Snyder, Zeke Eye and Caleb Flinn.
Doddridge County’s Josh Dehaven drew a walk in the top of the third inning, then Brockelman hit into a fielder’s choice and advanced on a pickoff error.
The Yellow Jackets settled down by collecting two groundouts.
Moorefield’s Gage Wolfe was hit by a pitch, then Reed struck out.
Greenwalt smacked the ball into a fielder’s choice and avoided a double play as the pass went askew with the ball sailing into the dugout for advancement.
Trevor Baldwin notched an RBI single into left field as the Yellow Jackets knotted the game at one run apiece and a groundout by Crites ended the frame.
In the fourth inning, Doddridge County’s Landon Clevenger crushed a double into center field and slid safely into the base as the pass went awry.
Luke Rokisky smacked a single into left field for the Bulldogs.
After a double steal, Thane Gum popped out on a catch by Greenwalt.
Doddridge County broke the tie as Maxwell Nicholson ripped a two-run producing double for a 3-1 edge.
Dehaven added to the Bulldogs lead with a shot into right field plating one run with the help of an error as Reed’s dive attempt came up empty for a 4-1 lead and a groundout would retire the side.
The Yellow Jackets would go down in order as Watts flew out in left field, Snyder struck out and Eye’s laser was caught at second base.
Moorefield pitcher Cyrus Kump issued a walk to Swiger, then struck out Sutton who had previously hit a home run in the opening frame.
Swiger stole second base and advanced to third base on a groundout, then scored on a passed ball to put the Bulldogs up 5-1 and a flyout ended the side.
Flinn reached base on an error as the first baseman was off the bag.
The Yellow Jackets added another base runner as Wolfe was hit by a pitch.
Moorefield failed to capitalize as Reed flew out, Greenwalt struck out and Baldwin hit into a fielder’s choice to end the fifth inning.
Watts caught a foul ball along the fence next to the dugout to start the sixth inning.
Kump induced a groundout before walking Nicholson.
Moorefield shortstop Trevor Baldwin made a diving save on a sharp grounder by Dehaven and crawled to second base for the out.
After a flyout by Crites, Watts connected for a single for the Yellow Jackets.
Snyder hit into a fielder’s choice and the inning came to a close as Eye grounded out.
A towering shot by Doddridge County’s Brockelman glanced off the left fielder’s glove for a double in the seventh inning.
Watts collected a pop-up, then the next batter was out on interference during a steal attempt.
The Bulldogs flew out for the last out in center field caught by Flinn.
The Yellow Jackets went down in order on a groundout, flyout and groundout with the Bulldogs chewing a 5-1 win.
