By Eric Herter
MORGANTOWN – A word to the wise for all future opponents of the Preston High School baseball team – don’t pitch to Bryson McNew.
The Knights’ junior catcher hit two solo home runs, a double, and drove in four runs on Monday to lead PHS past University, 8-4, in the opening round of Class AAAA North Regional play.
“Bryson is one of the most impactful players in the state,” Preston head coach and Bryson’s father, Glen McNew, said. “He’s impactful behind the plate and at the plate. I think he’s a lifetime .570 hitter, and that doesn’t come by accident. He’s the hardest working kid I’ve ever seen in my life.”
It was Bryson McNew who helped start a five-run first-inning rally for the Knights as he slugged an RBI double as part of a five-hit first inning for the Knights. Layne Clark added an RBI single in the first, while Tanner Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk and Robbie Low added an RBI sacrifice bunt.
“Anytime you can get out and get a lead, it will relax everyone,” coach McNew said. “It’s just human nature. Once you have a really good first inning, you’re always going to play a little bit better.”
That early lead helped PHS starting pitcher Aydan Ward settle into the game. The crafty lefthander picked up the victory as he scattered four hits in four innings of work.
“Ayden doesn’t throw super hard, but he hits his spots and keeps people off balance,” coach McNew said.
Preston (10-17) added one more run in the second inning when Bryson McNew sent a ball over the left-centerfield fence. The Knights tacked on another run in the fourth inning as McNew hit his second homer over the leftfield fence and then one more run in the sixth as the Hawks had seen enough of McNew’s heroics and intentionally walked him with the bases loaded.
“He had half of their RBIs today, and every ball he hit was either off or over the fence,” UHS head coach Travis Renner said on the reasoning for walking McNew.
UHS (10-21) scored one run in the fourth and three in the fifth, but couldn’t overcome the rough first inning and McNew’s bat.
“I can’t say that I have had (bases-loaded walk) before,” Bryson McNew said. “I’ll take any RBI I can get.”
Bryson McNew said he is seeing the ball well right now and was able to hit three good pitches in the zone.
“I caught the first one off the end of the barrel and just missed that one,” Bryson McNew said.
Preston turned to Tanner Thomas on the mound in the fifth inning, and he was able to pick up the save as he pitched the final three innings without allowing a hit. The Knights advance to the winner’s bracket of regional play and travel to Jefferson today for a 6 p.m. contest.
UHS, which was led offensively by Grant Alexander’s two hits, including a double, returns to action on Wednesday when it will travel to either Hedgesville or Washington for an elimination contest.
BOX SCORE
Preston 8, University 4
PHS 510 101 0 – 8 8 2
UHS 000 130 0 – 4 6 0
Preston (10-17) – Moyer 4110 Jenkins 3110 McNew 3334 Moats 2100 Thomas 4111 Clark 3011 Ward 3000 Haymin 0000 Lowe 1001 Thaler 4110 TOTALS 27 8 8 8
2B – McNew, Alexander
HR – McNew (2)
University (10-21) – Shuba 4000 Templeton 4120 Alexander 4120 Ca. Velickoff 4111 Waldo 3110 Jenkins 2001 Bryner 2000 Co. Velickoff 2001 Burgess 0001 White 3000 TOTALS 28 4 6 4
WP – Ward 4ip 6h 4r 3er 3bb 1k
LP – Deiriggi 1.2ip 5h 6r 5er 2bb 0k
S – Thomas 3ip 0h 0r 0er 1bb 2k
