By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
East Hardy’s Dayton Dove and Evan Hamilton smashed solo home runs in the seventh inning, but that wasn’t enough for the Cougars to rise out of the hole as the Vikings emerged with a 10-2 victory in Baker.
The Cougars committed six errors during the game as Petersburg capitalized to collect the win.
Petersburg starting pitcher Payton Metheny earned the win throwing seven strikeouts in four innings, while the Cougars utilized five pitchers combining for seven strikeouts led by Evan Hamilton with four strikeouts.
East Hardy starting pitcher Gage Dove saw his first pitch launched into right field by Vikings leadoff batter Payton Metheny which turned into an error as the ball ricocheted off the glove of Patrick Mills and dashed to second base.
Petersburg’s Caden Arbaugh flew out to center fielder Levi Price and Metheny tagged up slid safely into third base.
Peyton Tingler recorded an RBI groundout to put the Vikings ahead 1-nil and Price caught a fly ball from Kaleb Kuhn.
East Hardy’s Evan Hamilton and Shayne Sisler smacked back-to-back singles to commence the bottom of the first inning.
Metheny countered with a strikeout to Price, then the Vikings defense turned a double play to end the frame as the left fielder caught a fly ball and fired to home plate for the out as catcher Caden Arbaugh tagged Hamilton.
Petersburg began the second inning with a pair of pop-ups by Colin Mauzy and Lukas Wolford with catches by Sisler and Hamilton, respectively.
Gage Dove issued a walk to Matt McDonald before striking out Owen Reel to retire the side.
The Cougars went down in order as Metheny struck out Gage Dove and Jordan Teets before inducing a groundout by Mason Wilkins.
The Vikings commenced the third inning with a groundout, then loaded the bases as Metheny was hit by a pitch prior to walks given to Arbaugh and Tingler.
Kuhn notched an RBI flyout to put the Vikings up 2-0.
A pickoff error at third base allowed Arbaugh to dash home as Petersburg grabbed a 3-nil edge before the Cougars got out of the jam with a groundout fielded by Dayton Dove.
East Hardy’s Dayton Dove drew a walk, then Metheny tossed a strikeout to Mills and Hamilton flew out to left field.
Metheny issued a free pass to Sisler, then the Cougars stranded both runners on a strikeout to Price.
East Hardy pitcher Garrett Van Meter sandwiched strikeouts to Wolford and Reel around a walk to McDonald.
McDonald advanced around to third base on wild pitches, then Trace Rohrbaugh connected for an RBI single aided by an error.
Metheny drew a walk, then the Vikings took a 5-0 lead on a pickoff error allowing Rohrbaugh to score and a groundout ended the side.
The Cougars loaded the bases with two outs as Teets was hit by a pitch, Wilkins reached base on an error and Dayton Dove was given a walk, but all runners were left on the pond as Mills grounded out.
In the fifth inning, Petersburg’s Kuhn drew a walk from Van Meter and stole around to third base on passed balls.
Mauzy hit a hard grounder and reached base on an error as Kuhn scored to give the Vikings a 6-0 advantage.
Evan Hamilton came in to pitch for the Cougars, forcing a fly ball to Mills and fanning the next two batters.
East Hardy went down in order as Hamilton flew out, Sisler struck out against Tingler and Price grounded out.
Hamilton issued a walk to Rohrbaugh, then struck out Metheny in the sixth inning.
Rohrbaugh dashed home on a passed ball, then Arbaugh’s laser was caught by shortstop Dayton Dove, 7-0.
Tingler singled, then Hamilton retired the side with a strikeout to Kuhn.
Van Meter and Gage Dove grounded out for the Cougars, then Teets drew a walk before being stranded on a groundout by Wilkins.
East Hardy pitcher Krystian Byrum allowed a single by Mauxy to commence the seventh inning, then issued a walk to Wolford.
McDonald recorded an RBI single into left field and Wolford slid under Gage Dove’s legs at third base.
The Cougars defense recorded a double play, but the Vikings were able to score one run in the process on an RBI sacrifice fly from Reel and Gage Dove was knocked down on a slide at third base.
Rohrbaugh drew a walk and stole around to third base and toppled Dove sliding through his legs.
After a walk to Metheny, Arbaugh ripped an RBI single to give the Vikings a 10-nil lead.
Tingler was given a free pass, then Thomas forced a flyout to retire the side.
East Hardy started the bottom of the seventh inning with a solo home run smashed by Dayton Dove, 10-1.
Tingler induced a groundout by Mills.
The Cougars countered with another solo home run blasted by Hamilton, 10-2.
Sisler and Price grounded out to end the game as Petersburg claimed a 10-2 victory.
