BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers saw their season come to a halt as they lost a rematch with the St. Joe Irish 10-3 in regional tournament baseball action May 17 in Huntington.
The Panthers got on the board in the top of the second inning after Gage Whitt singled down the right field line and Gavin Fitzpatrick walked. This brought in a pair of early runs for TVHS.
In the bottom of the second inning, St. Joe took the lead after Hudson Moosavi tripled to right field, Mason Watts singled down the left field line, and Maddox Moosavi stole home.
Chandler Copley swiped home, which helped Tug Valley tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the third inning.
In the bottom of the third, the Irish broke up the tie when Wyatt Pence doubled, knocking in a pair of runs. Then a single by Moosavi followed to extend the St. Joe lead to 6-3.
Whitt started the game for Tug Valley on the mound. The right-handed pitcher allowed five hits and five runs over two innings, striking out two and walking none. He suffered the loss on the mound for TV. Copley and Elijah Fluty also saw action in relief for the Panthers.
Pence started on the hill for St. Joe. The righty hurler allowed four hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out eight and walking four. He picked up the win.
Whitt and Fitzpatrick were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in one run for Tug Valley Panthers. The Panthers were sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error in the field. Dawson Richardson made the most plays with six putouts.
The Irish amassed 13 hits in the game. Brayden McDowell went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead St. Joe High School Irish in hits. Moosavi, Pence and Watts each drove in a pair of runs for the Huntington team.
The Irish lost to Gilmer County in their next game.
The loss ended the season for the Panthers at 14-17 overall and 2-2 in regional tourney play.
Tug Valley’s senior class of Elijah Fluty, Austin Smith, Hayden Brumfield, Connar Gillman, Jacob Jones and Aiden Bosserman wrapped up their prep baseball careers.