BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

Tug Valley defeated county rival Mingo Central 6-4 and avenged an earlier season loss to Chapmanville with a 12-2 mercy-rule victory before falling 8-5 at Wayne later in the week.

Tug Valley 6, Mingo Central 4

Dawson Richardson struck out 10 batters as he led Tug Valley past county rival Mingo Central 6-4 on Miner Mountain, May 5.

Richardson allowed seven hits and four runs over 6 2/3 innings while walking four.

A double by Chandler Copley put the Panthers on the board in the top of the first inning.

Ryan Fabin doubled to center field, which helped the Miners tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first frame.

A single by Darian Vance gave Tug Valley the lead, 4-2 in the top of the second.

Noah Newsome stepped on the hill first for the Miners. The starter gave up two hits and four runs over one inning, striking out two and walking two.

Copley came on in relief for Tug Valley.

Vance led the Panthers with two hits in three at-bats from the leadoff position. Copley and Vance each drove in two runs for TV. Gage Whitt also had a hit for TVHS.

Fabin provided pop in the middle of the lineup and led Mingo with two RBIs. The first baseman went 2-for-4 on the day.

Tug Valley 12, Chapmanville 2

Tug Valley avenged an earlier loss at Chapmanville as the Class A Panthers routed and mercy-ruled the Class AAA Tigers 12-2 at Tug’s Don Spence Field in Naugatuck, May 4.

Parker Smith pitched the complete-game win on the hill for the Panthers, tossing all six innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Rightfielder Parker Kelly, hitting out of the No. 9 hole, led the Panthers at the plate as he was 2 for 2 with one RBI.

Gavin Fitzpatrick ripped a three-run, bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Panthers on top 11-2. He then scored on a wild pitch for the walk-off game-winning run.

Chandler Copley and Parker Smith each had a double for Tug Valley. Copley also drove in two runs.

Darian Vance had a single and two RBIs. “Shoeless” Jackson Jewell added a single and one run batted in.

The Panthers, who lost by the identical 12-2 score at Chapmanville earlier in the season, improved to 12-14. The Tigers dropped to 5-16.

Wayne 8, Tug Valley 5

The Panthers fell to the Wayne Pioneers 8-5 at Wayne, May 7.

Wayne took the first to in the first when Eli Staley doubled, knocking in two runs.

The Pioneers added one run in the third after Avery Nicely singled down the right field line.

Chandler Copley stepped on the mound first for Tug Valley. The starting pitcher allowed 12 hits and eight runs (three earned) over six innings, striking out six and walking two.

Jackson Graybeal started on the hill for the Pioneers. The southpaw gave up four hits and three runs (one earned) over five innings, striking out four and walking two.

Tug Valley accumulated nine hits in the game. Parker Kelly and Darian Vance each collected two hits for the Panthers.

Wayne collected 12 hits in the game. Staley provided pop in the middle of the lineup and led Wayne with two RBIs.