MORGANTOWN — Behind seven RBI from left fielder Drew Bailey, Morgantown Post 2 defeated Fairmont Post 17 12-4 on Thursday night at Dale Miller Field.
Bailey went 3 for 4 from the plate, driving in seven runs and scoring two also. The recent Morgantown High graduate hit a two-run single in the bottom of the first inning, a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth, and a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to help his team earn a the victory.
Post 2 made up for five errors on defense with 13 hits on offense. The bottom of the sixth inning was the only empty frame by the hosts.
“This is what we envisioned coming into the summer with our lineup,” Post 2 head coach Andy Altemus said. “We have a lot of guys that can do a lot of damage. If we can just clean some of the errors up we should be in a good spot. Even with the errors we had good energy and confidence.”
The confidence at the plate led to five different players hitting for a double in the game for Post 2 (11-10).
Bailey’s first hit came with two out in the bottom of the first and opened the scoring for the game. Aaron Forbes and Caleb Cottle scored after they each had a base hit. Cottle had three hits in the game, going 3 for 5 with three RBI and two runs. He added to the host’s lead with a two-run double of his own in the bottom of the second inning that doubled the score at 4-0 early in the game.
Fairmont was able to close the gap to one run in the top of the third with a one-out rally. A single, walk, and one of the five errors mentioned, led to three Post 17 runs in the top half of the third.
But as mentioned, the Post 2 bats were hot every inning. Cody Thomas added to the lead with a sacrifice fly that scored Brodee Latocha to make the lead 5-3. Bailey then hit another two-run double, his second of the game, to extend the lead to three at 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth.
Two more runs came for Post 2, one in the bottom of the fourth after Bailey’s double and another in the fifth, making way for him to step up to the plate for another impact on the game. After taking the first pitch for a ball, he sent the second over the left field fence for the final score of 12-4.
“This is kind of a breakout game for me,” Bailey said. “I’ve taken a lot of pressure for not performing and the team struggling. I see myself as a leader and I feel like I’ve straightened it out a little bit recently.”
Bailey says he’s been working hard every day to try and “get his swing back”. Altemus praised his left fielder for keeping his head down and not changing his routine.
“Drew is a prime example of things not going his way, but not changing a thing and keeping the confidence to get through it,” Altemus said about Bailey. “He doesn’t come in feeling sorry for himself or anything and goes out and plays great on defense also. He does things right and that’s what you need to eventually find that success.”
Post 2 will return to Dale Miller Field this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders beginning on Saturday against Wicomico, Md.
Morgantown 12, Fairmont 4
Fairmont 003 100 0 – 4 8 4
Morgantown 221 134 0 – 12 13 5
Post 2 – Thomas 3211, Cottle 5233, Forbes 5220, Montague 2100, Grabo 1000, Walters 2110, Bailey 4237, Templeton 2010, Latocha 4221, Dorkins 3000
2B: Walters, Cottle, Bailey, Thomas, Forbes
HR: Bailey
Post 17 – Riley 4110, Veltri 4120, Raddish 3110, Whiteman 4111, Miller 4020, Dawson 3011, Pourbiax 3001, Mayfield 4000, Mazzei 3000
2B: Miller
WP: Harman 5.0ip 6h 4r 2bb 2K
LP: Vincent 4.0ip 7h5r 2bb 1K
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