MORGANTOWN, W.Va.– Some folks are optimists, while others look at that proverbial glass as half-empty.
If Morgantown baseball coach Pat Sherald was a pessimist, he might have characterized his tenure at the helm of the MHS program heading into lWednesday’s home opener at Mylan Park against Buckhannon-Upshur as far less than successful — considering he’s held the job for over a year without a single win under his belt. Granted, the entire season was canceled last year due to the pandemic, but negative people might insist that well, facts are facts.
But Sherald is a pretty positive guy — “I preferred to consider us as undefeated,” he said. Now, he can point to the facts with a smile, as his Mohigans walked-off the Buccaneers in six, 10-0 for his first victory.
The patient, opportunistic Morgantown (1-0) offense got started in the bottom of the 1st, when two walks and an infield single loaded the bases, and a wild infield throw home resulted in two runs, followed by a wild pitch that plated the third for a 3-0 lead. In the second, WVU recruit Aaron Jamison had the 3-0 green light, and he crushed it out to left to extend the lead to 4-0.
In the top of the third, MHS lefty starter Gregory Eddy, who had been cruising with three Ks and only an infield single surrendered, ran into some trouble with runners on second and third with one out, and a 3-0 count on the next hitter. But Eddy battled back for a clutch strikeout, and an infield ground out closed out the threat.
“I thought he did a great job working out of that jam,” Sherald said. “A different result there, and the game could’ve been very different. He pounded the zone all night with two different pitches, and it was a great first outing for him.”
Replacing Eddy on the mound for his first-ever high school pitching performance, sophomore Dominic Colasante was equally effective, getting ahead in the count, pitching to contact, and keeping the Bucs off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
“I really like being out there,” Colasante said. “I’m in control of the pace of game, and it kind of goes through me. I wasn’t too nervous, stayed pretty calm. We have a great infield and outfield, so I just try to let them do what they can do, and make the hitters earn their way on. Definitely feels good to get our coach his first win.”
The Mohigans put the game out of reach with a 4-run third in which they sent ten men to the plate, the biggest blow a clutch RBI double from Jacob Kennell. Ethan Smith’s RBI grounder in the fourth knocked in Quincy Thornton before Ty Galusky stroked a double in the sixth to score Thornton with the winning run.
The undefeated Mohigans manager was plenty happy and plenty proud after the game.
“A nice win,” he said, “plus a few things to work on, which is what a coach likes best. It’s been so much fun to get back into baseball, to be teaching these guys every day. They’re like sponges, and they’re working so hard, and they’ve responded well to what we’re giving them, because they want to get better.
“Mostly we’ve been developing the relationships, the trust, and culture with the team. We’re learning about each other, and I just feel very fortunate and excited to get our first win.”
The Mohigans are back in action at home Friday against Musselman, with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
BUCKHANNON-UPSHUR (1-1)
Ian Donner c 2 0 0 0 Isaac Lane p 2 0 0 0 Nathan Cerullo p 0 0 0 0 Zach Caleb-Boring cf 1 0 1 0 Elijah Arbogast ss 3 0 0 0 Brady Hurst 1b 3 0 1 0 Jay Burnside 3b 3 0 1 0 Cam Tenney 2b 3 0 2 0 Johnny Haddix rf 3 0 0 0 Parker Browning lf 1 0 1 0 Brayden Hamen lf 2 0 0 0 Elijah Bryant cf-p 2 0 1 0 Totals 25 0 7 0
MORGANTOWN (1-0)
Aaron Jamison cf 1 2 1 1 Caleb Nutter ph 1 0 0 0 Zach Owens 2b 2 1 1 1 Reed Bailey ph 1 0 0 0 Ryan Fluharty 3b 1 2 0 0 Thomas Yanchak ph 1 0 0 0 Quincy Thornton ss 1 3 0 0 Zach Brennan 1b 2 0 0 0 Ty Galusky c 3 0 1 2 Ethan Smith rf 2 1 0 1 Caleb Cottle dh 2 1 0 0 Jacob Kennell lf 3 0 1 1 Gregory Eddy p 0 0 0 0 Domenic Colasante p 0 0 0 0 Totals 20 10 4 6.
B-U 000 000 – 0
MHS 314 101 – 10
HR – MHS 1 (Jamison).
PITCHING
BU – Lane (L) 2.2 ip 6 r 4 er 2 h 4 bb 4 so, Cerullo 0.1 ip 1 r 1 er 1 h 6 bb 0 so, Bryant 2+ (faced three in the 6th) 3 r 3 er 1 h 1 bb 0 so.
MHS – Eddy 3 ip 0 r 0 er 2 h 0 bb 4 so, Colasante (W) 3 ip 0 r 0 er 5 h 0 bb 2 so.
Wheeling Park 15, University 7
The Hawks fell behind early, trailing 11-0 in the 4th inning before ultimately losing by 8 runs in their season-opener at Mylan Park.
The UHS offense woke up in the latter half of the game, scoring all seven runs in the final four innings. Avante Neal, Casey Smith, Drew Herter and Wenkai Campbell each had RBIs for the Hawks (0-1).
It was a struggle defensively for UHS, committing seven errors. Smith gave up nine runs in three innings on the mound, but only two were earned.
The Hawks will host Frankfort at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Softball
University 6, Wheeling Park 5
Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Hawks scored three runs, capped off by a walk-off single from Ally Jansen to score Lauren Huebsch.
Jansen and Meysa Heitmann led the Hawks (2-0) with two RBIs, while Jansen also led the team in hits with three. Huebsch socked the only home run of the game.
In the circle, Autumn Stemple pitched all seven innings for UHS, allowing five runs (one earned) and striking out 16 of her 21 recorded outs.
The Hawks will host Hampshire for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Boys’ lacrosse
Wheeling Central 12, Morgantown 6
The Mohigans jumped out to a 2-0 lead but couldn’t hold it as Wheeling Central scored 12 of the next four goals in the game.
Preston Harman scored three goals for MHS (0-1) and added an assist.
Daniel Arthurs scored two goals and Josiah Higgins added another. Goalie Jay Anderson had nine saves.
The Mohigans will host St. Albans at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Tennis
Morgantown boys 7, Brooke 0
The Mohigans (1-0) earned a clean sweep of the Bruins on Tuesday night to open their season.
“It was a great start to the season,” coach Sabrina Hall said. “We’re so happy to be back on court and competing after the loss of our 2020 season.”
MHS will play University at 4 p.m. Thursday at Marilla Park.
JV baseball
Morgantown 11, Buckhannon-Upshur 2: Caleb Nutter, Lance Whanger, Dylan Travinski, Ethan Dorkins each drove in runs for MHS.
Middle school boys’ basketball
South 7s 68, Westwood 41: Isaiah Thompson led the Stallions with 21 points. Marcus Goins (13) and Hudson Blake (11) also scored in double figures as South advanced to the county championship. Glenn Brown (20) and Kaliel Lewis (19) scored in double figures for the Warriors.
Mountaineer 8s 51, South 45: Coen Henderson scored 17 points for the Mounties while Ty Jordan-Eagot added 12. Parker Watkins scored 20 for the Stallions. Mountaineers advanced to Friday’s championship game.
Mountaineer 7s 44, Suncrest 37: Austin Porta led the Mounties with 16 points, while Jack Byrer added 12.
Central Preston 68, Bruceton 24: Chayce Adams and Slaton Manko each scored 17 points to lead Central Preston to its county semifinal victory. Lash Jenkins scored 11 points for the Bulldogs. The 15-0 Wildcats now face Aurora on Friday night for the Preston County championship.
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