MORGANTOWN — One way to define Wednesday night’s win for Morgantown Post 2 over Buckhannon Post 7 would be “a true team effort”, as the hosts won 6-5 under the lights on a perfect evening at Dale Miller Field.
Third baseman Josh Smolkin ended the game in extra innings with a single in the bottom of the eighth inning that scored Cody Thomas from third base.
Post 2 (3-3) earned its second straight win by a single run after Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over Elkins Post 29.
“I’m feeling better now,” head coach Andy Altemus said with a grin after the game. “I wish our games weren’t as close but we are mature enough as a squad to handle that and we tell them all the time that when teams come and play us here it’s going to be tough.”
The maturity showed in true form for the hosts throughout the game, as five of the six runs scored by Post 2 came by way of a bases-loaded walk, three sacrifice flies and a fielder’s choice ground ball.
The walk, drawn by right fielder Brody Latocha, gave Post 2 its first run and lead of the game. He was followed by Thomas, who brought Ethan Dorkins in to score with a fly ball to center field to double the lead at 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
Post 7 cut into the lead in the top of the fourth on a single to left field by Brayden Hamer that scored Grant Mealey from second base. However, another sacrifice fly, this time by Caleb Cottle extended Post 2’s lead back to 3-1.
Post 2 starting pitcher Zach Harman was relieved by Tyler Furbee in the top of the sixth inning and the visitors were on him early with a lead-off double and a walk to open the inning.
After a fly out and another walk, Buckhannon cut the deficit to one run at 3-2 on a fielder’s choice. That was followed by designated hitter Ryan Snyder sending a laser into left field that took a strange hop past Latocha and allowed two more runs to score, giving the visitors a 4-3 lead late in the game.
Post 2 stole the lead back in the bottom half of the inning 5-4 on two sacrifices by Tommy Montague and Cottle. Buckhannon matched with its own sacrifice fly to tie the game 5-5 in the top of the seventh.
After failing to score to end the game in the seventh inning, Post 2 earned another at-bat in extra innings. Thomas doubled with a line drive to center and then was given third base on a balk. Then Smolkin delivered for his team and ended the game on a base hit.
“It’s a lot of fun and we’re just enjoying ourselves,” Thomas said after the win. “They scored a couple of runs but we weren’t too worried and just kept playing our game. We know what we can do at any given time.”
Post 2 will hit the road this weekend beginning on Friday against Frederick (Md.) at Musselman High School.
Morgantown 6, Buckhannon 5
Buckhannon 000 103 10 – 5 9 2
Morgantown 020 102 01 – 6 7 2
Morgantown – Thomas 3321, Smolkin 3111, Montague 3011, Cottle 1002, Templeton 3011, Walters 3110, Dorkins 2110, Cash 1010, Latocha 3001, Croyle 2000
2B: Thomas
Buckhannon – Calef-Boring 5020, Bennett 3100, Anderson 4010, Mealey 4220, Westfall 2101, Clem 4010, Hamer 3111, Bryant 4021, Snyder 4000
WP: Thomas 2.0ip 2h 1r 1bb 2k
LP: Hamer 5.1ip 4h 4r 3bb 1k
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