MORGANTOWN — The Trinity Christian baseball team fell to visiting Doddridge County 12-8 on Monday evening at Dale Miller Field at Mylan Park.
After leading 6-3 early in the game, the Warriors (10-9) began to defeat themselves with costly mistakes that gave the Bulldogs extra bases and extra runs. After tying the game back at 8-8 entering the seventh inning, TCS allowed the visitors to score four runs in the top of the seventh which proved to be the difference in the contest.
The Warriors allowed 12 hits, nine walks and committed five errors on defense.
TCS first basemen Ryan Parker was the bright spot for his team at the plate, going 2 for 4 with two RBI and a home run over the left field fence.
“We’ve done this to ourselves all year,” TCS head coach Wes Hopkins said after the game. “We are a 10-9 team that could easily have a better record. We aren’t playing complimentary baseball. If one area of our game is doing well, we drop off somewhere else. Then when you combine errors with giving up free bases, that’s where the issue truly is.”
The errors for Hopkins’ squad came on mostly routine plays, grounders and throws. The infield of TCS had a hard time reading the bounce of the ball off of the dirt at times.
TCS did however hold a lead early on, scoring four runs in the bottom of the second inning to jump out to a 5-2 lead. Brock Shuba doubled to center field, scoring two runs and giving the Warriors their first lead of the night at 3-2.
Will Hancox followed when a fly ball was dropped in the outfield, scoring another run and extending the inning. TCS added another run before the third out to take a 5-2 lead.
The Bulldogs responded well with scoring innings of two, three, and four in the back half of the game. The difference maker was the top of the seventh inning when they exploded for four runs to jump out to the lead that would prove to be the final score. Three of those runs in the seventh came with two outs as well.
“The last time we played Doddridge (a 9-3 loss) we only had two hits,” Hopkins said. “Tonight we hit the ball better and harder tonight but one major thing for this team is staying up. When we get down, we get way down. I’m still looking for a true leader in the young team, so we will see who can emerge these last few weeks.”
With one lone senior on the team, Hopkins has seen production from mostly underclassmen. TCS will travel to Parkersburg Catholic on Wednesday.
Doddridge 12, Trinity 8
DC 201 230 4 – 12 12 2
TCS 141 011 0 – 8 6 5
Doddridge – DeHaven 4210, Eddy 5222, Sutton 5000, Sutton 5230, Rokisky 4232, Racey 2011, DeHaven 4000, Cochran 1200, Gum 2112
2B: Rokisky, Sutton, Eddy
Trinity – Hancox 3000, Hopkins 3210, Dinkel 2001, Parker 4122, Timperio 3100, McPherson 4120, Toler 2100, Bowers 3100, Shuba 3112
2B: Shuba, Parker
HR: Parker
WP: Racey 5.0ip 4h 7r 6bb 3l
LP: Shuba 3.0ip 8h 7r 5bb 4k
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