By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Martinsburg 10-12 Baseball sparked early fireworks on Independence Day with a 9-1 lead in the second inning before sealing Moorefield’s fate in a 10-1 victory to claim the West Virginia Little League District 6 Tournament runner-up spot and state berth.
Moorefield opened the game with Kaden Flinn drawing a walk.
Payden Williams slapped a sharp grounder down the third base line for a single, but Martinsburg fired home to stop Flinn.
Jason Klar flew out to left field as Williams remained at first base.
A pickoff went awry as Williams stole around to home plate to give Moorefield a 1-nil lead.
Moorefield’s Gracin Reel singled into center field prior to being stranded on a strikeout by Truett to Easton Sions.
Martinsburg commenced the first inning with a double by Asher into left field, then Jace smacked a double into center field and Dexter Eye’s throw back prevented advancement from third base.
Martinsburg tied the game as Lincoln hit a sharp grounder to third base for an RBI single.
Martinsburg took a 2-1 lead as Truett recorded an RBI single into left field.
Bera added to the lead with an RBI single up the middle, then Owen notched an RBI groundout for a 4-1 advantage.
Flinn jammed Hunter into a pop=up, then Garrett singled on a pop fly landing just in front of home plate before the runners were stranded on a strikeout.
Mooreifele went down in order in the second inning as Keegan Weatherholtz and Dexten Eye struck out before Kipton Sneathan flew out in left field.
Hudson ripped a double into left field for MArtinsburg, then Fllinn issued two walks to load the bases.
Asher unleashed a two-run producing double with the latter run just avoiding the tag for a 6-1 lead.
Flinn jammed the next batter into a pop-up to Sneathen.
Lincoln plated two runs with the help of an error as the throw from Williams sailed above Sions at first base for an 8-1 score.
Truett hit an RBI groundout field by Williams to create a 9-1 lead and the inning came to a close on a catch by Eye.
Moorefield’s Levi Rohrbaugh grounded out to begin the third inning, then Jake Funk drew a walk.
Bobby Barr hit into a double play as Moorefield came up empty.
Martinsburg was able to draw a pair of walks with two outs before stranding runners on a fly ball.
Klar was issued a free pass for Moorefield in the fourth inning with two outs before being left on the pond with a groundout.
Martinsburg’s Elijah was hit by a pitch, then Baylor was thrown out on a dropped third strike with Elijah avoiding a double play at second base on a miscue.
Moorefield brought Gracin Reel to the mound, who induced a groundout.
Martinsburg extended the lead 10-1 as Jaces connected for an RBI single.
Reel issued a free pass before ending the frame with a strikeout.
Sions grounded out to start the fifth inning for Moorefield, then Weatherholtz flew out to the left fielder.
Eye tapped the ball back to the pitcher, but the first baseman was off the bag stretching for the ball on the single.
Eye was caught in a rundown to retire the side.
Moorefield’s Payden Williams won a game of rock-paper-scissors with Flinn to determine who would play in center field as Eye came in to pitch.
Moorefield right fielder Jake Funk caught a fly ball, then Eye snatched a laser and had a huge smile on that second out.
Martinsburg responded with a single by Hunter, then Garrett reached base on an error as Flinn missed a scoop of a grounder.
Eye denied another run with a strikeout to close the inning.
Martinsburg sealed the 10-1 District 6 runner-up win as Truett pitched two strikeouts to Sneathan and Rohrbaugh before a sharp grounder by Funk was mishandled by the third baseman and recovered in time to make the throw to first base for the final out.
Marinsburg will join Jefferson County at the state tournament in Elkins.
