By Bill Nestor
It was the end of the road for the last two teams standing in Harrison County. Bridgeport and South Harrison had high hopes of a trip to Charleston to compete for a state championship, but, unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be as their seasons came to a close.
Baseball is a weather dependent sport and it pushed back play until late last week. Couple that with the fact that both teams clinched two weeks prior and that makes for a great deal of mental downtime. Sure, both the Indians and the Hawks played some practice games during the week in between and it’s always great to get those repetitions in. Such scrimmages are much better for the players than just practicing. Without, however, the pressure of the “win or go home” hanging over your head, it’s much easier to make a play in the field, throw a full count strike, or deliver that two-out hit.
These handful of practice clashes kept Bridgeport and South Harrison involved and there is no doubt that each squad had its fair share of momentum. The Tribe had won nine consecutive lock-ups (counting the practice games) in various ways. There were a couple of on-run wins. There were a pair of shut out triumphs, to games where they scored a dozen or more runs, and four victories of six or more runs.
There were some impressive wins over some quality opponents for the Indians during that run, including defeats of Morgantown twice, University, Wheeling Park, Lincoln, and Phillip Barbour.
The streak started back on the fifth of May and, ironically, there was only one cancellation during that entire period., so having to push back the start of the most important series of the year three days early cooled off an extremely hot squad.
The Hawks had four different win streaks of three games or more this season, including bookend four game runs. The ladder had them riding momentum heading into a battle with Phillip Barbour. A five game streak culminating with a clash with the Colts started in the last game of the regular season. A confidence-building victory over Lincoln gave South Harrison momentum heading into the postseason. Wins over Moorefield and Petersburg twice helped the Hawks move on.
Mother Nature finally allowed baseball to be played last Thursday and these teams were able to finally get back on the diamond. Each competed in a best of three series for the chance to compete for a title. The Indians and the Hawks suffered opening game losses and neither could recover in the short series situation.
Bridgeport was facing Frankfort in their three-game series. The Falcons were the team that last defeated the Tribe before that big win streak began. In game one, Frankfort edged the Indians six to five, scoring a pair in the top of the seventh. Luke Rohrig was the only multihit Indian, going two of four with an RBI double.
Game two was a bounce back 11 to zero, five inning win. Pitcher Owen Sondricker went the distance and was two for three from the plate for Bridgeport. Sam Romano was three for three with three stolen bases and Rohrig collected two additional hits.
Game three went to Frankfort 10 to six. The Indians had several chances, but couldn’t capitalize, Carson Currey claimed a pair of doubles for the Tribe and Rohrig also collected a pair of hits in the setback. The Tribe finished the year with a 26 and 10 mark.
South Harrison suffered a nine to five loss to Philip Barbour in Phillippi in the opener. The Hawks had a four to nothing lead when a huge eight run fifth inning lifted the Colts into the lead. Layton Wageman and Seth Gain were both two of four from the dish for South Harrison and each player collected a double in the setback.
The second game of the series also went to P.B. two to nothing. Corey Saltis was the only multi-hit performer for the Hawks, going two of three in the loss. South Harrison finished the campaign with a 22 and 15 record.
That will do it for now! Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!!!
