BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

NAUGATUCK, W. Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers swept a doubleheader over the Wirt County Tigers on Saturday, April 6 at the Don Spence Park in Naugatuck.

Tug Valley won by scores of 3-2 and 9-0.

The 3-2 win was a walk-off variety. With the game tied 2-2, Julian Vance singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

Both teams were strong on the mound as Panther’s pitchers struck out nine batters, while the staff for Wirt County struck out five TV batters.

Each team plated a run in the third inning, with Tug Valley taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Tigers tied it in the top of the sixth at 2-2.

Conner Lackey picked up the mound win in relief. Gage Whitt and Chandler Copley also saw action on the hill for Coach Teddy Hall’s team.

Ashton Davis, Elijah Fluty and Vance all had two hits to lead in TVHS hitting. Vance had two RBIs.

In the other game Tug Valley shut out the visitors 9-0.

The Panthers took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and led 5-0 after the second. They continued to tack on runs in the later innings to build on the lead.

Vance picked up the pitching win on the mound. He helped his own cause with three hits including a triple and a pair of singles.

Lackey also had three hits for Tug Valley.

On Monday, April 8, the Panthers lost a close 3-2 game to the Man Hillbillies.

Lackey was the hard-luck loser for Tug Valley on the mound in relief, while Braxton Messer earned the win for the Billies. Dakota Ooten was the starting pitcher for the Panthers.

Whitt, Vance and Ooten each had base hits for the Panthers. Cam Gerace had a 2-run homer for Man. Tug tied the game in the fifth inning. Man took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh and held on to win the game.