By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
“It was baseball everywhere you looked,” Moorefield senior Trevor Baldwin noted.
Legendary Mountain State programs found humility in Cooperstown (NY) which is the birthplace of baseball.
It was more than just playing a rivalry game for Class A No. 10 Moorefield and Class AAAA No. 3 Jefferson as these teams took their storied history to Doubleday Field.
Jefferson skipper John Lowery has about 1,500 career wins and 12 state championships, but his first loss at the Cougars helm was against George Hott-led Yellow Jackets.
Moorefield coach Wade Armentrout has collected over 400 career wins and five state titles.
All those numbers are part of the rich tradition in the Mountain State, but nothing compared to walking in the footsteps of legendary players like Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.
“It was a great experience for our guys. It was an experience they probably wouldn’t have if not for this opportunity and we are grateful to all the people from our community who helped make this possible. It was a great trip. I was glad to take these great young men there to experience the history of baseball and present day baseball. They can appreciate the game of baseball. The fans had a great view of the game in a historic grandstand style,” Moorefield coach Wade Armentrout commented.
The Yellow Jackets took in a tour of the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday morning and toured the town full of baseball themed stores and restaurants.
“It was very exciting to have played at Doubleday Field, but more importantly it was an honor to have the opportunity to play on the same field as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron just to name a few. It was also very neat to see a town so involved with the game of baseball, from the hotels, shops, and restaurants, it was baseball everywhere you looked,” Moorefield senior Trevor Baldwin stated.
“Anyone that is involved with baseball should put visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame on their bucket list. Seeing the history of baseball on display and all Hall of Fame inductees was truly amazing. A lot of great people made this trip possible for our team and I truly appreciate them giving me the opportunity to make this trip my senior year.”
The game against the Cougars came on Friday night with rain falling, but that didn’t dampen the joy of being in the historic Doubleday Field complex.
“Playing at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown was an unforgettable experience that made me appreciate the history of the game even more. Knowing that I was playing in the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame gave every moment on the field a special meaning. As I stepped onto the field, I could almost imagine the legendary players who inspired generations before me. The atmosphere in Cooperstown is filled with tradition and a deep love for baseball,” Moorefield freshman Thomas Simmons said.
“Playing with my teammates at such a historic place reminded me what we love the sport. I felt honored to compete on a field that represents the heart of America’s pastime. Walking around Cooperstown after the game allowed me to reflect on the dedication and hard work required to succeed in baseball. Visiting the Hall of Fame helped me realize that baseball is more than just a game, because it connects people across generations. My time at Doubleday Field is a memory I will always carry with me and an experience that strengthened my passion for baseball.”
The Yellow Jackets out-hit Jefferson, but the Cougars managed to corral a 3-nil win in upstate New York.
The Yellow Jackets starting pitcher, Matthew Iman, pitched a strikeout to start the game against Jefferson at Doubleday Field which is something to cherish for years to come.
Iman induced a groundout, then allowed a single by Jefferson’s Guerra before center fielder Zakk Keplinger caught a fly ball.
Moorefield would go down in order as Edison Metheny struck out against Guerra, then Eastyn Haines hit a line drive snagged a second base, then Oliver Crites launched the ball to the center fielder.
Iman and the Yellow Jackets kept Jefferson off the scoreboard in the second inning starting with a catch by right fielder Caleb Flinn, then Gross reached base on one error and was stranded on a strikeout and another catch by Flinn.
Trevor Baldwin’s shot to left field was corralled by the Cougars for the first out, then Blake Snyder struck out.
The Yellow Jackets got on track as Iman hammered a double into right field and Flinn hit a sharp grounder up the middle for a single.
Vance Simmons came in as the courtesy runner for Iman.
Keplinger hit into a fielder’s choice and Flinn was thrown out just before Simmons crossed the plate negating the run to end the frame.
Jefferson went down in order during the third inning as Keplinger caught a fly ball, then Dominguez reached base on an error prior to being picked off at first base on a third attempt by Iman and the side was retired on a pop-up catch by third baseman Blake Snyder in foul territory.
After a strikeout to Greenwalt, Metheny singled before the Cougars turned a double play off the bat of Haines.
Jefferson took the initial lead in the fourth inning as Guerra smashed a double into left field collected by Thomas Simmons and brought home on an RBI groundout by Moulton.
Gross added another double, but couldn’t score on a catch by Simmons.
Moorefield’s Oliver Crites drew a walk and Cyrus Kump came in as the courtesy runner.
Baldwin hit a blooper single into shallow right field, but the runners were stranded as Snyder struck out and Iman’s shot to left field was caught.
The Cougars failed to get on base in the fifth inning on a fly ball caught by Keplinger, Baldwin fielded a grounder and Iman finished the frame with a strikeout.
Keplinger singled on a laser into left field, then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Greenwalt.
Metheny reached base on an error as the Yellow Jackets now had runners on the corners.
Haines was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Guerra jammed Crites and Baldwin into pop-outs to escape any damage.
Iman issued three walks as Jefferson loaded the bases, then Kail Greenwalt came in to pitch with one out in the sixth inning.
Gross smacked a two-run producing double for a 3-0 lead.
Greenwalt and Simmons caught the next two hits to retire the side.
The Yellow Jackets jumped on base with interference and an error, but failed to score.
The Yellow Jackets weren’t able to add a run in the final frame, despite Metheny drawing a walk as the Cougars defense pounced on the ball.
“The town, the hall of fame, the field, the history was all amazing. Sharing it with my family and teammates was the best part. Very thankful that our coaches and sponsors made this happen,” Moorefield senior Oliver Crites remarked.
Moorefield was to face another familiar opponent, Pendleton County and the weather nixed that plan with a heavy downpour on Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets enjoyed the overall historic trip, despite the weather and outcome.
