By Chapin Jewell
Short Gap, W.Va. — In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jaxon Hare singled in Blake Jacobs from second, giving Frankfort the 1-0 win over Moorefield, and with it, a regional championship and state state tournament berth.
Jacobs had did his part, doubling with one out to place himself in scoring position as the game’s most pivotal moments played out.
“When the top is top of the order is up, we think we have a great chance to score. Jake (Jacobs) really squared the ball up and it got into the gap for a double. Jaxon had two really nice hits late in the game, that last one up the middle set the stage as they weren’t going to throw Blake out at the plate,” Frankfort coach Matt Miller stated.
According to Miller, “Both of those guys stepped up huge. They have their whole careers, this is not the first time, and hopefully it won’t be their last.”
There was a sense almost from the start that one run could win the hame. Frankfort’s pitching was on point, so too was its defense. Moorefield countered with tremendous pitching and quality defense of its own.
“We’re fielding .980 as a team, which is unbelievable for a high school baseball team. That’s Major League level numbers. So, we’ve been good defensively all year, especially within the infield. Obviously we are senior-laden in there and they do a great job, and Lanson doesn’t give up a whole lot of hard contact either, which makes defense a whole lot easier. They were great today,” Miller detailed.
Lanson Orndorf pitched another efficient masterpiece for Frankfort in the win. Orndorf went the full seven innings, striking out eight, walking zero, giving up one hit and zero runs. Orndorf delivered 56 strikes in just 72 full-game pitches.
Matthew Iman had been stellar on the bump for Moorefield as well. Iman lasted the first six innings but hit his 110-pitch limit and was unable to go in the seventh. In six innings, he struck out eight, walked four and gave up three hits with zero runs.
“Iman did a great job. He defied his scouting report a little bit, and he worked the inner half of the plate, which was not part of our plan. He did a great job doing it and he pitched a great game. Kudos to him. It was good to get a win there in the seventh inning,” Miller explained.
Blake Snyder came in for the seventh inning for Moorefield, striking out zero, walking zero, giving up two hits and one earned run.
Frankfort was led offensively by Jaxon Hare who singled twice and tallied that all-important RBI. Blake Jacobs doubled and scored one run, Braeden Laffey doubled. Gunnar Bradshaw.
Moorefield’s lone hit was a double by Caleb Flinn.
Moorefield’s season concludes. Frankfort (22-7) advances to the state tournament, the Class AA segment of which doesn’t begin until Monday, June 8 in Huntington. In the meantime, in the way of tune-ups, the Falcons will likely play East Hardy and Morgantown sometime next week.
The Falcons have had their eyes on Huntington from day one. They’ve shown they have the roster to get the job done. In addition, it’s hard to deny that Frankfort is playing very well.
“We’re not about a regional plaque anymore. That’s not what we play for. Our goal is not the regional. We do plan to compete every year for a state title right now, and that’s what their goal is. We’re going to go after it in a couple of weeks,” Miller stated.
According to Miller, “We’re not making mistakes. We’re making teams beat us, we’re not beating ourselves. That’s what it’s going to take to win a state title. You can’t beat yourselves. Our guys haven’t beaten themselves all year, and they’ve been on the big state before. As long as we stay under control and don’t beat ourselves, we’re going to be in great shape.”
