By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Moorefield had a rollercoaster ride during the West Virginia Junior League Baseball State Tournament in Martinsburg.
Moorefield Junior League erased an 8-0 deficit to narrowly scale past Princeton in the state tournament opener 10-9 before being stonewalled by Martinsburg 25-nil and continuing the ride into the elimination round.
Moorefield emerged with an 8-3 win over Princeton to meet up with Martinsburg again in the championship before falling 12-2 to conclude the state tournament ride.
Martinsburg Junior League returns to the Southeast Region Tournament representing West Virginia again.
Moorefield trailed Princeton 8-0 in the second inning before putting on the rally caps in the opening round.
Princeton’s Lucas, Tunstalle, Harvey and Jenkins each garnered RBI doubles during that run.
The Moorefield rally in the second inning started with two free passes given to Keaton Watts and Eastyn Haines.
Eli Kidwell notched an RBI groundout to third base to put Moorefield on the scoreboard, 8-1.
Haines stole home to make it 8-2 prior to a strikeout to Will See.
Moorefield’s Weston Eye and Tyler Roy drew walks before being stranded on a pop-up by Zack Harvey.
Princeton went down in order during the second inning on two groundouts sandwiching a strikeout thrown by Weston Eye.
Moorefield’s Hunter Wimer hit a blooper single into center field, then Brantley Crites flew out.
Dakon Taylor drew a walk and the baserunners made a double steal.
Moorefield’s Jake Baldwin hammered a two-run producing double into center field to cut the deficit in half, 8-4.
Watts drew a walk, then Baldwin advanced to third base on a wild pitch before Watts swiped second base.
Kidwell ripped a two RBI double up the middle as Moorefield closed the gap 8-6 in the third inning and the inning came to a close on a strikeout to See.
Moorefield loaded the bases in the fourth inning with a single by Roy and walks to Harvey and Wimer.
Taylor was issued a free pass with two outs to plate Roy for an 8-7 score and a groundout closed the frame.
Moorefield tied the game in the fifth inning as Haines singled and scored on a wild pitch.
Princeton went back on top in the sixth inning with an RBI single by Browning, 9-8.
Crites drew a walk in the seventh inning and tied the game on a balk
Baldwin singled and made the winning run with the help of another balk, 10-9.
Martinsburg shutout Moorefield 25-0 in the second round which included ten runs score in both the third and fourth innings.
Martinsburg ace Cole allowed one hit with five strikeouts, while Deeds close the game with two strikeouts.
Rosie led Martinsburg with three hits, four RBI’s and two runs scored.
Haines recorded the lone Moorefield hit which was a double.
Moorefield bounced back in the loser’s bracket eliminating Princeton 8-3 to reach the championship.
Princeton took the initial lead in the first inning on Harvey’s RBI single.
Moorefield tied the game in the third inning as Eye walked and Harvey singled before Wimer hit into a double play with Eye coming home.
Moorefield’s Dakon Taylor smashed a double in the fourth inning, then Baldwin walked before Watts put Moorefield ahead with an RBI single, 2-1.
Kidwell notched an RBI groundout to extend the lead 3-1.
See and Eye drew walks before being stranded on a strikeout.
Moorefield loaded the bases in the fifth inning with walks thrice to Wimer, Crites and Taylor.
Princeton’s Lucas sandwiched strikeouts around a free pass to Watts plating Wimer.
Crites and Taylor stole home to put Moorefield up 6-1.
Princeton scored twice in the sixth inning and Moorefield answered with two runs on single by Baldwin for the final score of 8-3.
Watts pitched six innings for Moorefield with six strikeouts and seven hits, while Baldwin pitched one inning with no hits.
Martinsburg secured the state championship with a 12-2 win over Moorefield.
Martinsburg built an 8-0 lead over the first two innings before hitting cruise control.
Henderson pitched four strikeouts with one hit allowed for Martinsburg, while Deeds notched five strikeouts with two hits.
Moorefield’s Taylor pitched one strikeout and allowed six hits, while Baldwin pitched two strikeouts with two hits.
Moorefield’s Haines crushed an RBI double (Crites) in the fourth inning and Wimer added an RBI single (Kidwell) in the sixth inning for the two runs during the 12-2 title defeat to Martinsburg.
