If you’re in it, you might as well try to win it.
The Morgantown baseball team, ranked #1 in the state in Class AAAA, have their eyes on the lofty prize that any top-ranked team would want the most – a trip to the state tournament in Huntington. But along the way, there are plenty of meaningful games left on their schedule, including last night’s Ohio Valley Athletic Conference semifinal match-up at Dale Miller Field at Mylan Park against long-time rival Wheeling Park.
Add in the challenge of facing a top-notch pitcher like Patriots ace and Seton Hill University commit Kolten Whitmire, and the Mohigans were going to be tested – and they certainly passed with high marks, especially their junior First-Team All-State starter Maddox Boggs, who tossed a complete game to lead MHS to a rock-solid 10-1 victory.
The Mohigans (18-3) burst out to a key early lead in the bottom of the first on Kane Williams’ deep two-run blast over the right-center fence. And the Morgantown bats added on – and knocked out Whitmire – with five big runs in the third, most of the damage from a pair of two-out, two-run hits from Lincoln Thornton and Brayden Gorby. And while the Patriots (5-9) got the lead-off batter aboard in each of the first four innings, Boggs – utilizing an effective change-up along with his usual fastball-slider combination – didn’t walk a single batter while coaxing weak contact. Only an infield error allowed Park to dent the scoreboard with a single unearned run in the fourth. Koa Silvers capped a three-run MHS fifth inning with a ringing two-RBI double to left to cap the scoring.
Boggs had retired seven straight heading into the top of the seventh, but he’d also thrown 92 pitches, so MHS coach Pat Sherald had his starter on a very short leash.
No worries, as Boggs turned in a TRUE immaculate inning – three pitches, three lazy flyball outs, ballgame.
“I cannot recall ever being part of a game with a three-pitch inning,” Sherald marveled afterward. “You always see something new at the ballpark. But in a way, I’m not surprised, because that was just a very mature pitching performance. Anytime a high school pitcher doesn’t walk a batter in seven innings, it indicates a very efficient approach, and I’m glad Maddox got to finish this one. He deserved it.”
Boggs indicated that he “had a great feel for all my pitches tonight, especially the change-up. I was able to move it in and out, and I felt like the slider had good movement, plus I was able to spot my fastball. Even when they got on early in innings, it was mostly on weak contact, so I knew if I just trusted my stuff and trusted my defense, we’d be alright. And when Kane took him out in the first, it really took the life out of them. As a starting pitcher, getting a big early lead like that is all you can ask for.”
Sherald was very pleased with his lineup’s approach against a quality arm.
“Whitmire is a very good pitcher,” he explained, “and we did a real good job of working counts and being patient, especially with two strikes. Lincoln’s hit was big for us, and for him. He stayed back, got the barrel through the zone, and drove a really good pitch into the gap.
“We’ll be facing excellent pitching if we get to the State tournament,” he continued, “so anytime you’re able to face them, especially in a Conference tournament like the OVAC, it just prepares you and helps you grow and improve. I’m proud of their effort tonight.”
With Steubenville’s 4-2 win against John Marshall, the Mohigans and Big Red will meet on Friday or Saturday for the OVAC Championship.
Wheeling Park 000 100 0 – 1
Morgantown 205 030 x – 10
WHEELING PARK (5-9) – Whitmire 3020 Gorby 3000 Updegraff 3000 Bartsch 3000 Yanchak 3120 Kelly 3000 Cox 3010 Groome 3000 Moore 2000 Hudson 1000 Totals 27 1 5 0
2B: Yankchak
MORGANTOWN (18-3) – Gorby 3012 Bowers 3210 Silvers 2012 Williams 4213 Nipper 2110 Bredeson 4000 Thornton 4212 Joseph 1200 Henkins 3131 Totals 26 10 9 10
2B: Bowers, Thornton, Silvers
HR: Williams
W: Boggs 7.0ip 5h 1r (0ER) 0bb 5k
L: Whitmire 3.0ip 7h 7er 4bb 2k
