KINGWOOD — The maturation of a young program is a tough road to walk sometimes and the Preston baseball team learned that on Thursday with a 12-0 loss to Philip Barbour in six innings.
For a team with no seniors and just three starting juniors, inconsistency is to be expected, and coach Glen McNew knows it’s all just part of the process.
The Knights (3-5) have traded wins and losses for a week now, defeating East Fairmont 3-1 a week ago, then losing 11-1 to Fairmont Senior before bouncing back and beating Grafton 8-4 on Tuesday.
“Part of being around programs like this is once you start winning, you have to learn how to win,” McNew said. “It’s tough for the kids, they’ll get there. It’s one game, you’ve got to let it go and come back ready for the next one tomorrow.”
The first half of Thursday’s contest against Philip Barbour (4-5) was a well-played, tightly-contested affair, as Preston’s starting pitcher Mason Chaney equally matched PB’s Miles Hutzler through four innings. But, it was those inconsistencies of a young team that bit the Knights.
The Colts’ first offensive rally came in the top of the third inning and it all started when Nick Gonzales reached base on a dropped third strike. He stole second and was driven in on an RBI single by Andrew D’Angelo, who later came around to score on a single by Tyler Sisson to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
Chaney then pitched a clean fourth inning and finished with a line of four innings pitched allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four and walking one.
Preston’s offense, meanwhile, was getting runners on base but never found that big hit to drive any in. The Knights loaded the bases in the bottom of the third and fourth innings but ultimately had nothing to show for it.
Chaney left the mound with his team down 2-0, but just one inning later it was 9-0. Each of the first six PB batters who came to the plate in the top of the fifth eventually scored as the Colts put up a seven spot. Gonzales started the inning with a triple to deep left-center, but much of the damage was self-inflicted by Preston. Knights pitching walked five batters in the inning and four runs were scored on passed balls.
“You don’t want to expect games like this to happen, but when you’re trying to build something and learn how to win, stuff’s going to happen,” McNew said. “No big deal, let it go and get ready to play tomorrow.”
Eight-hitter Kale Wolfe ended up leading Philip Barbour in the win with two singles, three RBI and two runs scored. Hutzler picked up the win, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings while striking out nine and allowing four hits and five walks.
Brady McNew, Robbie Lowe and Nathan Adams were all on base multiple times for the Knights.
Preston is right back at it tonight with another home game, this time against Tucker County.
Philip Barbour 12, Preston 0, 6 innings
PB 002 073 — 12 8 1
PHS 000 000 — 0 5 1
PB: N Gonzales 2 2 1 0; D’Angelo 3 2 1 2; Isch 4 1 1 0; Halfin 2 2 1 1; Sisson 4 1 2 1; A. Gonzales 2 2 0 0; Cole 3 0 0 1; Wolfe 4 2 2 3; J. Harris 2 0 0 0.
PHS: McNew 3 0 1 0; Lowe 3 0 1 0; Chaney 3 0 1 0; Wharton 2 0 0 0; Manko 2 0 1 0; McVicker 3 0 1 0; Ward 3 0 0 0; Turner 3 0 0 0; Adams 2 0 0 0.
3B: PB (N. Gonzales)
WP: Hutzler 4.2ip, 0r, 4h, 9k, 5bb
LP: CHANEY 4ip, 2r, 4h, 4k, 1bb
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