BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
RED JACKET, W.Va. — Tug Valley got out to a 4-run lead in the third inning and held on for an 8-7 victory over county rival Mingo Central on Friday, April 25.
The Panthers got a little revenge with the win. They had lost to the Miners 3-1 a few days earlier.
Mingo Central was trailing but closed the gap by scoring on a single, a double, a single, and an error late in the game, according to Game Changer.
Tug Valley did not take the lead until late in the game. The game was tied at seven in the top of the seventh inning when Gavin Fitzpatrick scored a run after tagging up.
The Panthers opened the scoring in the first after Gage Whitt singled, scoring one run.
Ryan Fabin stole home, which helped Mingo Central tie the game at one in the bottom of the second frame.
Tug Valley jumped into the lead in the top of the third when Chandler Copley singled, bringing home one run. Elijah Fluty laid down a sacrifice bunt, which helped the Panthers score two runs. Then Jacob Jones singled to score another run.
Mingo Central took the lead 6-5 in the bottom of the fourth when Keziah Joplin singled, scoring one run, and an error helped the Miners score two more runs.
Jones singled down the right field line, which helped the Panthers tie the game at six in the top of the fifth inning.
Copley doubled to center field, which helped Tug Valley tie the game at seven in the top of the sixth.
Copley pitched four and two-thirds innings in relief for Tug Valley. The right-hander surrendered five hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out two and walking none. Whitt started the game for Tug Valley, coached by LeeAnn Blankenship.
The starting pitcher surrendered four hits and three runs over two and one-third innings, striking out four and walking one. Corey Rogers started on the mound for Mingo Central. The hurler surrendered eight hits and seven runs over five and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking four.
Tug Valley had nine hits in the game. Austin Smith, Jones, and Copley each collected two hits for the visiting Panthers. Jones and Copley each drove in two runs.
Mingo Central also collected nine hits in the game. Aaron Blankenship, Joplin and Fabin each collected two hits for Mingo Central. Blankenship, Joplin, and Dylan Vance each drove in a run for the Miners. Mingo Central swiped four bases in the game.