BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers shut out the Tolsia Rebels 12-0 in Class A Region 4 Tournament action May 13 and Huntington St. Joe 13-6 on May 14.
Against Tolsia, the Panthers of Coach LeeAnn Blankenship went ahead 5-0 in the second inning and increased the lead to 7-0 with a pair of runs in the third frame. Tug Valley padded its lead with five more runs in the fourth to come away with the win in a game played at the YMCA Center in Huntington.
Tug Valley scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Elijah Fluty doubled, scoring one run; Hayden Brumfield singled, scoring one run; Austin Smith doubled deep, bringing in two more runs; and Dawson Richardson grounded out, scoring another run.
The Panthers pounded out 13 hits, led by Austin Smith and Conner Gillman with three each and a pair by Elijah Fluty. All three pounded out doubles to help their team with the victory.
Smith and Gillman both knocked in three runs for TVHS.
Gavin Fitzpatrick stole two bases, while the Panthers stole five bases in the road game.
Jacob Jones got the win on the mound for the Panthers and only gave up one hit to Tolsia. He had nine strikeouts and did not walk any Rebels batters.
The lone hit for Tolsia was by leadoff hitter Gage Dawson. Jeremy VanHoose took the loss on the bump for the Rebels.
With the win, Tug Valley advanced to take on St. Joe of Huntington.
Tug Valley 13, HSJ 6
The No. 8 seed Panthers (14-15 overall, 2-0 in the regional tourney) upset the top-seeded and state’s No. 2-ranked Irish (22-7, 0-1) in the Class A Region 4 Tournament in Huntington at the Irish’s George T. Smailes Baseball Field.
The Panthers got four runs across the plate in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh to increase their lead.
Tug Valley got on the board in the top of the second inning after Austin Smith ripped a double, scoring one run, and Richardson singled, scoring two more runs.
The boys from Naugatuck extended their early lead with two runs in the top of the third, thanks to RBI singles by Jacob Jones and Hayden Brumfield.
Chandler Copley pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief for Tug Valley. The hurler surrendered two hits and three runs while striking out one and walking two. Gage Whitt started the game for TVHS. The righty gave up six hits and two runs over three innings, striking out one and walking one.
Cam Kellar began the game for St. Joe. The right-handed pitcher gave up three hits and three runs over two innings, striking out one and walking two.
Tug Valley banged out 13 hits in the game. Richardson, Whitt, Gavin Fitzpatrick, Brumfield and Conner Gillman each collected two hits. Copley raced out a triple for Tug Valley. The team had plenty of patience at the plate, with seven walks drawn in the game.
Copley picked up the win on the mound for TVHS. E. Mannon took the loss in relief for St. Joe.
The Irish accumulated 10 hits in the game. Hudson Moosavi led St. Joe High School Irish with two RBIs. The third baseman went 2-for-4 on the day. Moosavi, Wyatt Pence, Mason Watts, and Kellar each collected two hits for the Irish.
Tug stayed in the winner’s bracket to advance to a game Thursday night on the road at Gilmer County.
Tug Valley avenges a 9-0 loss to the Irish from earlier in the season.