MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown Post 2 is currently grinding its way through a very challenging schedule this summer, and after Wednesday night’s tough 3-2 home loss against Clarksburg, it was looking for a strong rebound performance Thursday against yet another strong intrastate rival, Parkersburg Post 15.
And perhaps the best way to bounce back is by simply doing your job, which is exactly what Post 2 did, executing at the plate with both small ball and power, executing in the field with two excellent relay outs at home, and also on the mound, as Avante Neal won his spot start, 6-3.
Parkersburg (13-7) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on Eli Reeves’ two-out RBI single. Morgantown (12-4) looked poised to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with none out, but a line drive double play and a pop-out kept them off the board. But Post 2 got the job done in the second, as Caleb Cottle and Ethan Smith led off with singles, and both came around to score on Brent Robinson’s RBI grounder and a wild pitch.
Post 15 tied up in the top of the third on Reeves’ RBI ground out, but Post 2 responded in their half, bunching three singles to plate Tony Marsh to regain the lead, 3-2. Morgantown extended its advantage in the fourth, scoring three runs, the big blow being a two-RBI laser line drive over the centerfielder’s head by Aaron Forbes. Parkersburg scored a run in the fifth on Reeves’ RBI double to left, but a relay from Jack Croyle to shortstop Jake Spearen to Robinson at the plate cut down a runner to end the inning.
Morgantown was unable to add on, but after relieving Neal to start the fifth, Cody Thomas shut down Parkersburg the rest of the way to earn the save — though not before another relay to cut down another runner at the plate to squelch a potential rally in the final inning.
After the game, Neal credited his defense for the win.
“They did a great job behind me,” he said. “We made all the plays we needed to make, and those two big plays at home was a huge difference tonight. If those two runs score, then the tying run is at second with only one out, and anything can happen.”
Forbes, who drilled a pair of long doubles, scored one run, and drove in a pair, grinned just as wide when describing the pitches he barreled up.
“They were fastballs,” he said, “which is kind of rare lately. I haven’t seen too many, so I’ve been hunting hanging curveballs. It was nice to capitalize on those fastballs when I got them. I was a really solid team win, especially after last night.”
Post 2 manager Andy Altemus considered this win workman-like — a term he considers high praise.
“We had a job to do, and we did it,” he said. “Parkersburg was the state [champion] in 2018, they’re an excellent program, and they compete. We told our guys to do the same — just go out there and compete. We bunted very well (five bunt singles and a pair of sacrifices), did a good job with situational hitting, and Avante did a great job on the mound. We wanted two innings from him, and he gave us twice that.
“We are a solid team and have faced state tournament teams from West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and more than held our own. And I think our team is starting to believe they’re pretty good. They should, and tonight was a nice example of what they can do.”
Parkersburg Post 15 101 010 0 — 3
Morgantown Post 2 021 300 x — 6
PARKERSBURG POST 15 (13-7)
Nic Menarchek ss 3 0 0 0 Brett Haskins cf-c 3 2 2 0 Brodie Wiggins lf 3 1 3 0 Dustin Corley 1b 3 0 0 0 Eli Reeves rf 3 0 2 3 Cam Taylor dh-3b 3 0 0 0 Drew Woofter 3b-p 3 0 1 0 Colton Pepper c-cf 3 0 0 0 Ben McPeek 2b 3 0 2 0 Andrew Manley p 0 0 0 0 Totals 27 3 10 3.
MORGANTOWN POST 2 (12-4)
Cody Thomas ss-p 3 0 1 0 Zach Owens dh-1b 3 1 1 0 Aaron Forbes 3b 3 1 2 2 Tony Marsh rf 4 1 1 0 Ty Galusky 2b 2 0 0 0 Caleb Cottle 1b-2b 4 1 2 1 Ethan Smith cf 2 1 2 0 Park Croyle lf 2 0 0 0 Brent Robinson c 2 1 1 1 Avante Neal p-cf 1 0 0 0 Jake Spearen ss 0 0 0 0 Totals 26 6 10 4.
E – Parkersburg 1. DP – Parkersburg 1. LOB – Parkersburg 7, Morgantown 9. 2B – Parkersburg 2 (Reeves, Wiggins), Morgantown 2 (Forbes 2). SH – Parkersburg 1 (Corley), Morgantown 2 (Galusky, Croyle). HBP – Morgantown 1 (Robinson by Woofter).
Parkersburg – Manley (L) 3.1 ip 6 r 5 er 9 h 3 bb 1 so, Woofter 2.2 ip 0 r 0 er 1 h 1 bb 1 so.
Morgantown – Neal (W) 4 ip 2 r 2 er 6 h 1 bb 2 so, Thomas (S) 3 ip 1 r 1 er 4 h 2 bb 0 so.
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