MORGANTOWN – When your team is going well, you seem to be somehow able to find your way to a win. And when the arrow is pointing in the opposite direction, it can feel like you invent new ways to add to you loss column.
At Shilling Field at Mylan Park yesterday, the University baseball team had won seven out of their last eight heading into their match up with Preston, who had gone 0-3-1 in their last four, all narrow defeats. And after a hard fought, see-sawed battle, the hots stayed hot and the nots stayed not, as the Hawks overcame five- and three-run deficits to win in double comeback fashion, 9-8.
Preston (8-9-1) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after a hit batter, walk, wild pitch, and two-RBI single from sweet-swinging sophomore catcher Bryson McNew, although a caught stealing prevented more damage for the Hawks. However, the Knights took advantage of UHS control issues in the next inning after two outs to score three more. Wyatt Moyer stroked a two-run single and McNew ripped another RBI base-knock, but University’s Lukas Neer shifted from second base to the mound and got the crucial third out with the bases loaded.
Down 5-0, UHS (14-11) began their climb with consecutive doubles from Tommy Montague and Neer, with Neer earning an RBI and a hustling run scored after advancing to third on a groundout and inducing a wild throw. The Hawks knotted things up at 5-5 in the third when a pair of infield errors and a walk plated one run, Daniel Grabo’s double knocked in another, and Neer’s sac fly to right tied things up.
After a quiet fourth inning, the Knights loaded the bases with nobody out, leading UHS to make another pitching change, calling on dh/closer Max Cash to put out the fire. After a strikeout, PHS’s Slayton Manko chopped a ball that bounced over the drawn-in first baseman, scoring two, and an errant throw home cleared the bases for an 8-5 Preston lead.
Down once again, but with just nine outs left, the Hawks once again found a way to claw their way back into the game, starting with patience. Three walks led to a Knights pitching change, and an infield error scored one run. A missed sign on a suicide squeeze provided a big break for Preston, but Neer redeemed himself with a clutch RBI single to center, and then pinch hitter Barrett Shuba’s two-out, two-strike, two-RBI single vaulted the Hawks into their first lead of the game. After that, Cash was simply money, allowing just a harmless seventh inning walk to earn the victory in relief.
“Interesting is a good way to describe this one, I think,” Preston head man Glen McNew said after the tough loss. “We had a good approach at the plate early, were aggressive on the bases, and certainly played hard from start to finish, as we always do. Games that are tight like this always come down to one or two plays, one or two pitches, one or two swings, and the team that executes and gets it done at big times usually wins the game.
“We’ve lost four and tied one,” he continued, “and we probably should’ve won all five games – but that happens when you’re a young team. You learn from losing, not from winning, and we need to practice better, coach better, and play better to start to make those plays and win these types of games. We’re right there, and we’ve come so far in the past few years, so I feel good about where we are and where we’re headed.”
For Hawks coach Travis Renner, the roll his team has been enjoying played a part in their response to adversity.
“We’ve been down early before,” he explained, “and we know that our job is to stay in it, and find a way to win every single pitch, every single inning. In baseball, you always get your chances, so you have to put the past behind you and keep battling. Lukas Neer is the perfect example of that. He misses a sign, then gets a big, big hit for us. It’s like having a closer’s short-term memory all the time – just concentrate on the next pitch.”
When asked about his team’s streak, Renner was a little reticent (read superstitious) about discussing specific numbers.
“I don’t want to say too much about it,” he grinned. “Let’s just say we are coming together as a team heading into the playoffs. We’re doing a pretty good job in all phases of the game, and I especially like how our bench is always up, always in the game and encouraging the guys on the field. Believe me, it matters, and I think it’s been a big part of our recent success. We just want to keep it going.”
The Hawks hosted East Fairmont in Game 2 of their dual-team doubleheader winning 3-0. They travel to Bridgeport today and close out the regular schedule with a road doubleheader at Martinsburg on Friday. The Knights finish out their regular season today at home against Fairmont Senior at 5:30 p.m.
PRESTON 230 003 0 – 8
UNIVERSITY 023 040 X – 9
Preston (8-9-1)
Slayton Manko cf-p 3 2 1 2 Wyatt Moyer 3b 3 2 1 2 Bryson McNew c 3 0 2 2 Lyric Moats rf 4 0 2 0 Robbie Lowe 2b 2 0 0 0 Tanner Thomas ss 3 1 0 1 Gideon Oliphant dh 3 1 1 0 Ayden Ward 1b 1 0 0 0 Brier Peaslee ph-cf 0 1 0 0 Cooper Thaler lf-rf 3 1 0 0 Malik Powell lf 0 0 0 0 Lucas McVicker p 0 0 0 0 Totals 25 8 7 7.
University(14-11)
Curtis Quarrick 4 1 0 0 Brance McCune 2 2 1 0 Max Cash 3 1 0 0 Daniel Grabo 3 1 1 1 Tommy Montague 2 2 1 1 Lukas Neer 2 1 2 3 Colson Jenkins 3 1 0 0 Logan Waldo 2 0 0 0 Barrett Shuba 1 0 1 2 Brock Shuba 3 0 0 0 Devin Enos 0 0 0 0 Grant Alexander 0 0 0 0 Totals 25 9 6 7.
PHS – Manko (L) 2ip 1r 1er 2h 2bb 2so.
UHS – Cash (W) 3ip 0r 0er 1h 1bb 5so.
