MORGANTOWN — The wind was blowing out Tuesday at Mylan Park, and Morgantown High hitters took full advantage.
That brisk breeze translated into a bunch of bombs from the Mohigans, starting with Jacob Kennell’s leadoff homer, as they scored in all but one inning on their way to a powerful 10-2 victory against Parkersburg South.
After the Patriots (0-2) took a first-inning 1-0 lead against MHS’s lefty starter Reed Bailey, Kennell drilled a full-count slider out to left.
“I thought he was gonna throw a 3-2 fastball,” a grinning Kennell explained after the game, “but I was able to stay back on the breaking ball and put a good swing on it. I didn’t think it went out until the ump waved me around. First at-bat of my senior year, and I hit my first varsity home run – doesn’t get much better than that.”
Aaron Jamison, who along with Kennell amassed three hits, followed with a deep triple, and scored on a balk to give the Mohigans (1-0) a lead they’d never surrender. In the second, Caleb Cottle crushed an opposite field dinger to double the advantage to 3-1, then Jamison followed with a no-doubter in the third.
South tried to grind their way back into the game in the fourth, loading the bases with two out, but Bailey coaxed a weak contact pop out to short to slam the door shut. MHS blew the game open in the bottom of the frame, scoring five, the big blows a clutch two-run single from Weston Mazey and Jamison’s second long-gone tater, a two-run shot to right center.
Sophomore righthander Dylan Travinsky came on in the fifth after Bailey earned his win and reached his pitch count, and pitched solid, one-run ball the rest of the way, earning the save in his varsity debut. Morgantown bunched three singles in the sixth, Ryan Fluharty’s RBI hit scoring the final run.
After the game, MHS coach Patrick Sherald confirmed that he was pleased with all phases of his team’s game.
“You know, the wind rarely blows out up here, so we’re usually doing more on offense with moving runners, more small ball,” he smiled, “but today, I just sat on my hands while we hit the ball hard. I also though Reed pitched well despite not having his best stuff to give us a chance to win, and what a great job by Dylan in his varsity debut. It was also great to see Weston make a great turn on a double play and pick up a couple hits, too.
“We’ll be using a lot of pitchers early in the season,” he continued, “and we’ll move our infield and outfield pieces around to see what our best line-up will look like moving forward. I think this team has a high ceiling, and they’re just a really fun group to coach. We’re excited about getting started, and finding out what we can become.”
The Mohigans travel to Wheeling on Wednesday to face Linsly.
Notre Dame 8, Trinity 7
CLARKSBURG — After trailing 7-2 in the fifth inning, Notre Dame came back to win on a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh.
Trenton Timperio had two hits and drove in two runs for the Warriors, while Evan Rice added a triple and Peyton Dixon had a double.
William Hacox also had two RBIs for Trinity.
Rice took the tough loss on the mound. He pitched 6 1/3 innings and struck out six.
Boys’ lacrosse
Morgantown 20, Preston 0
Weston White scored five goals and teammate Preston Harman added four goals and three assists to lead the Mohigans.
Ty Edgerton and Wyatt Kozel each had two goals and two assists.
MHS will travel to Martinsburg and Hedgesville on Saturday.
Girls’ tennis
Williamstown 5, Morgantown 2
Maddie Carver took a victory at No. 4 singles with an 8-3 victory against Claire Strobl for the Mohigans.
At No. 3 doubles, the MHS combo of Amber Li and Lauren Gilchrist defeated Alayna Hoffman and Ashton McIntyre, 8-2.
Boys’ tennis
Williamstown 7, Morgantown 0
Williamstown finished with a clean sweep, but a singles and doubles match were close.
At No. 1 singles, Williamstown’s Austin Bosgraf held on for an 8-6 victory.
At No. 3 doubles, Brandon Gray and Matt Easter needed to win a tiebreaker (7-2) to secure the victory after the match was tied 8-8.
