By Carl Holcomb
The Yellow Jackets’ bats snap, crackle and pop taking the lead twice including the initial 2-nil edge on a home run blast by Trevor Baldwin, but Cougars ace Shayne Sisler weathered the lightning storm as East Hardy shifted the atmosphere for a 12-6 win to even the season series at Raymond Snapp Field.
Sisler started to sizzle over the course of the game collecting 11 strikeouts and allowing only five hits overall with two walks.
Sisler issued a free pass to Moorefield leadoff batter Edison Metheny, then the Cougars defense turned a double play as Zakk Kiplinger’s grounder was fielded by second baseman Mason Hamilton with a quick out at second base and fired to Brandon Wilkins at first base.
The Yellow Jackets got back on the pond as Oliver Crites reached on an error as his sharp grounder was mishandled at first base.
Baldwin hammered a two-run home run giving Moorefield its first lead of the game in during the opening frame, 2-0.
Wilkins snatched a line drive by Blake Snyder to retire the side.
Moorefield starting pitcher Trevor Baldwin’s fourth pitch was launched by East Hardy leadoff batter Evan Hamilton into left field where Thomas Simmons corralled it.
The Cougars loaded the bases as Mason Hamilton drew a walk, Levi Price was beaned and Sisler sliced a wicked hopper into left field.
East Hardy cut the lead in half as Dayton Dove hit an RBI fielder’s choice as Edison Metheny dished to Kail Greenwalt at second place before Baldwin got out of the jam inducing a groundout by Gage Dove to hold a 2-1 edge.
The Yellow Jackets went down in order as Matthew Iman flew out to Price in center field, Sisler struck out Caleb Flinn and Eastyn Haines.
East Hardy grabbed a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Eli Combs received a free pass, then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Mason Wilkins.
Combs moved to third base as Patrick Mills grounded out to put the tying run in scoring position.
Evan Hamilton was given a walk placing runners on the corners, then Mason Hamilton smacked an RBI single up the middle.
The Cougars went up 3-2 on an RBI single from Price into center field.
East Hardy kept the momentum going as Sisler pushed an RBI single into left field, 4-2.
Snyder caught a line drive by Dayton Dove to prevent further damage.
The Yellow Jackets buzzed back in the third inning starting with consecutive singles by Greenwalt and Metheny.
Sisler countered with a strikeout to Kiplinger after the runners advanced on a passed ball.
Crites hit into a fielder’s choice as third baseman Gage Dove fired home to catcher Dayton Dove for the tag.
Baldwin drew a walk to load the bases.
Moorefield’s Blake Snyder belted bases clearing double into left field and dashed to third base on a wild throw home to take a 5-4 lead.
Sisler struck out Iman to retire the side.
East Hardy was back in business putting ducks on the pond and regaining the lead in the bottom of the third inning.
Gage Dove was hit by a pitch, then Combs flew out to Simmons prior to a free pass to Mason Wilkins.
Baldwin struck out Mills, but the Cougars top of the lineup clawed away.
Evan Hamilton smashed a two-run producing triple for a 6-5 edge.
Mason Hamilton hopped on the pond with a walk.
Evan Hamilton swiped home plate for a souvenir and 7-5 lead.
Baldwin jammed Price into a popup to Greenwalt to end the frame.
Moorefield came up empty in the fourth inning as Sisler fanned Flinn and Haines, then jammed Greenwalt into a pop up first baseman Mason Wilkins.
Haines came in to pitch for the Yellow Jackets and tagged Sisler, then Dayton Dove reached on an error in right field.
After a double steal, Gage Dove executed an RBI groundout. 8-5.
Haines jammed Combs into a pop-up to Baldwin at third base prior to hitting Wilkins with a pitch.
The Cougars extended the lead to 9-5 as Mills smacked an RBI single into center field.
East Hardy doubled the score to 10-5 as Evan Hamilton sliced an RBI single.
Haines loaded the bases on a walk to Mason Hamilton.
Price and Sisler drew additional walks plating runs to give the Cougars a 12-5 advantage.
Metheny caught a fly ball in shallow center field to end the frame.
Metheny commenced the fifth inning crushing a triple into right field.
Zakk Kiplinger sent Metheny home on a sharp grounder which went askew for a 12-6 score.
Crites flew out to Price near the Black Monster, then Baldwin hit into a fielder’s choice and Sisler retired the side with a strikeout to Snyder.
Neither team could muster another run and Sisler ended the game with three consecutive strikeouts as East Hardy secured the 12-6 victory to even the series.
“[Shayne Sisler] He didn’t have his best stuff tonight, but battled through the rough start and got the job done,” East Hardy skipper Tyler Mongold noted.
