KEYSER — Dylan McCartney’s bunt single in the bottom of the twelfth inning extended Berkeley Post 14’s season and pushed the American Legion state baseball tournament to a decisive game Sunday at noon. Post 14 edged Morgantown 6-5 in the opening game of the championship round.
The game-winning play was perhaps unconventional yet Berkeley won the game thanks in large part to their work in laying down bunts and putting pressure on Morgantown’s defense. With runners on second and third and two out, McCartney sent a bunt down the first base line. He scampered down the line for an infield single as Cory Daly dashed in from third with the winning run.
“I walked down and told Dylan to find a line and bunt the ball and catch them off guard,” said Berkeley manager Tripp Tobin. “He said, ‘But coach there are two outs. I don’t think it is a good idea’. I said it is a good idea if you do it right.”
Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Berkeley stood two outs from elimination. Yet another bunt play evened the score and forced extra innings. Kyle Farmer’s successful squeeze bunt brought Justin Murphy home to even the game at 5-5.
Berkeley erased an early 3-0 deficit with a four-run third inning. Three Post 14 batters reached base in that frame courtesy of bunts.
“Their bunts were well placed. That’s the game of baseball,” said Morgantown manager Tyler Barnette. “I kept waiting on our big inning but it never came around. We have to limit that big inning next time.”
Morgantown answered back in the top of the fourth as a Caleb Taylor sacrifice fly brought Matt Renner home to tie the game at 4-4. Post 2 then surged ahead in the seventh as Clay Maholic’s RBI fielders choice sent Colton Matthews to the plate, giving Post 2 a brief 5-4 lead.
Hunter Coe picked up the win in relief for Berkeley. Coe entered the game in the seventh inning after Post 2 took the lead. Coe tossed 5 1/3 innings of shutout baseball while striking out seven batters. Matt Renner was the hard-luck losing pitcher for Morgantown. He allowed just one run in 4 2/3 innings of relief.
“They burned pitching and we burned pitching,” Tobin said. We are going to see everyone’s next level of pitching tomorrow so it could be a slugfest. But you never know. We might unleash the small ball again. We will do whatever the circumstances call for.”
Morgantown defeated Wheeling 4-1 earlier in the day to advance to the championship round. “We battled for 19 innings today,” Barnette said. “Things just didn’t shake out our way. We get to come out here fresh tomorrow and start over.”
Berkeley had just ten players available for the game. Hedgesville graduate and James Madison signee Chase Delauter may be available to return for Sunday’s decisive game.
“These kids keep playing with heart. I can’t say enough about these 9-10 kids that are here,” Tobin said.
Colton Matthews and Quintin Smith each had three hits for Morgantown. Justin Murphy had three hits for Berkeley.
The winner of Sunday’s decisive game will advance to the Mid-Atlantic Regional in North Carolina on August 7th.
“Baseball is an everyday game,” Barnette said. “You can not live on yesterday. We have to wipe things and look forward to tomorrow.
