MORGANTOWN – From the beach to the ballpark. Recent University High graduate and 2022 OVAC 5A player of the year, Aaron Forbes, returned from his senior trip in a way only Aaron Forbes truly could.
He entered the game as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning with his team tied 7-7, not seeing any playing time until that point. After taking the first two pitches, Forbes sent the third pitch he saw over the left field fence, giving Post 2 (2-2) a 8-7 victory over Potomac Valley Post 64 (2-3).
Despite the outcome, it was Post 64 who jumped out to the early lead and who held that lead for the majority of the game. Three runs in the top of the first inning gave PV64 an advantage they would hold until the fifth inning.
The first run came on a hard single to center that scored the runner from third base, that was followed by two fielding errors by Post 2 that allowed runs on each.
Morgantown found its first run when Zach Brennan stole home after catching the pitcher in a full windup. Brennan caught the plate with the toe of his cleat, just underneath the catcher’s tag to cut the lead to two runs, 3-1.
Another run for Post 64 in the fourth made it 4-1, and after both teams coming up empty in the fifth inning, the game entered the final two innings with Post 2 needing to get their offense going. Multiple runners left on base had been a theme all night. While hits came, most of them seemed to be with two out already on the board, keeping the runners for Post 2 at ease.
Ethan Dorkins singled to lead off the sixth inning. His hit would spark a four-run, no-out rally for Morgantown that gave them the lead at 5-4. Dorkins scored on a single by Tony Marsh. He was followed by Brady McNew who scored Cody Thomas, making it 4-3.
Dominic Colasante would come to the plate next, still with zero outs on the board and two runners on base at first and second. Colasante dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line that was overthrown to first. Both runners would score and the throw allowed the MHS graduate to round second and get to third on a bunt that was intended to be a sacrifice.
One additional run in the fifth inning, and another in the sixth, extended the lead to 7-4 for Morgantown heading into the final inning. Kason Nealy was on in relief for Caleb Cottle and after a quick scoreless sixth, he found himself in a jam with the bases loaded and no outs registered.
Two straight walks cut the lead to 7-6, but Nealy would get the first out on the next pitch. A sacrifice fly gave him his second out but it tied the game at 7 and forced Post 2 to make a power move.
Enter Aaron Forbes.
Forbes, a recent graduate of UHS and returnee from vacation, came on as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh, looking to give his team a boost. He sent the third pitch over the left field fence to give Post 2 the 8-7 victory, bringing their record to 2-2 after the first week of play.
Morgantown will return home Tuesday at 7 P.M as they host Elkins Post 29.
Morgantown Post 2 (2-2)
Dorkins 3 1 2 0 Thomas 3 1 2 0 Marsh 4 2 2 1 McNew 4 1 2 1 Colasante 4 1 2 1 Brennan 3 1 0 0 Montague 4 0 2 1 Croyle 2 0 1 0 Boggs 3 0 0 0 Forbes 1 1 1 1
Potomac Valley Post 64 (2-3)
Healy 4 0 0 0 Reed 3 2 1 1 Stricker 0 1 0 0 Mallow 3 1 1 1 Mowery 4 1 1 1 VanMeter 2 1 1 1 Landis 4 0 0 0 Rotruck 2 0 0 0 Charlton 1 1 0 1 Landis 1 0 0 0
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