MORGANTOWN – In any sport that involves multiple phases, winning can be achieved by doing well in most of those phases. It doesn’t have to be every single phase of the game, but for Andy Altemus and his Post 2 players, they executed all phases of the game of baseball to earn their sixth win of the season over Uniontown, Pa.
It started on the pitcher’s mound as Tyler Furbee had the responsibility on Friday night at Dale Miller Field. Despite giving up the first run of the game in the top of the second, Furbee remained calm and methodically earned the outs he needed. While he doesn’t throw the hardest, Furbee continuously battled with the Uniontown batters and allowed his defense to make plays behind him in support.
Furbee threw a complete game for Post 2 (6-11), reaching a pitch count of 106. Of those 106 pitches, 77 of those were for a strike. With the strong defense of Morgantown, Altemus says that’s all it takes at times.
“When you throw strikes like he [Furbee] has done, you can’t go wrong,” he said. “Tyler got his opportunity and he hasn’t looked back one time and it’s awesome to see. He pounds the zone and relies on his defense and that’s great. Even when it doesn’t go his way and he gives up a hit he comes right back for the next batter.”
The defense mentioned by Altemus made multiple plays to help their pitcher, both in the infield and outfield.
Second baseman Jett Walters opened the scoring for Post 2, scoring Cody Thomas on a single to center field that tied the game at one.
Following the run in the second, came a four-run third inning that blew open the lead 5-1 for Morgantown.
Aaron Forbes started it off with a hard hit grounder to left field. Catcher Max Cash and Kason Nealy scored on the hit. Forbes’ former UHS teammate Cody Thomas then stepped to the plate with two men on base. He doubled to deep left field, scoring the two runs and making the lead four.
“We came out with some great energy top to bottom,” Altemus said. “Everybody wanted to get on base, we wanted to focus on getting baserunners, we played hard in the field and then Furbee pitched very well.
Another four-run inning come for Post 2 in the sixth that extended the lead to seven at 9-2, all but sealing the deal for Morgantown.
Cash singled to left field and scored two runs. He was followed by Ethan Dorkins who was hit by a pitch, then Kason Nealy drove in two more runs on yet another laser up the middle. The seven run lead would prove to be enough as Furbee would strike out the last batter looking to end the game.
With 10 games to play, Morgantown can still get over the .500 mark before the postseason begins. It’s games like this that can be used to start a streak, says Altemus.
“We haven’t been able to be consistent, we play a good game then have a tough one,” he said. “We have an off day tomorrow, then two on Sunday at Mon County Ballpark and get excited to win two more games.”
Post 2 will host two games at Wagener Field at Mon County Ballpark on Sunday. First will be New Philadelphia, Ohio with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. Then Charleston Post 65 will make the trip north on i-79 for a 6:00 p.m. start.
Morgantown (6-11)
Nealy 3 1 2 2 Forbes 4 1 1 2 Brennan 3 1 0 0 Thomas 3 1 2 2 Montague 3 0 1 0 Walters 2 1 1 1 Cottle 3 1 1 0 Cash 3 2 2 2 Dorkins 1 0 0 0
