GRANVILLE — Baseball can be a fast-paced sport when both pitchers are on their game, as was the case Friday night at Mon County Ballpark when Morgantown’s Dylan Travinski and Hurricane’s Dylan Bell battled each other pitch-for-pitch in an 80-minute dual for the ages.
The only misstep by either ace came in the bottom of the first inning when Bell allowed MHS to load the bases with no outs on a bunt hit and back-to-back walks.
Bell managed to escape the jam only allowing one run, a sacrifice fly by Caleb Nutter, but that was enough as the Mohigans (18-5) went on to win 1-0.
“Who knew that one run in the first inning would end up winning that ball game,” MHS coach Pat Sherald wondered after the game. “The magnifying glass just gets really big against really good teams like that. We were able to lay down a bunt, take advantage of a couple of walks and Caleb Nutter gets in there with a really nice two-strike approach for a sac fly. It was absolutely crucial when you look back on it.”
Hurricane (19-6), the No. 1 team in Class AAA and defending state champion, managed just three hits off of Travinski and had only one baserunner in the final three innings. Travinski’s final line was no runs over seven innings, a complete-game shutout, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out eight.
“It feels amazing,” Travinski said of his performance. “The adrenaline going through you for all seven innings feels really good.”
Bell matched him every step of the way, allowing just the one run in six innings with two hits, three walks and 11 strikeouts.
“Dylan Bell threw really well,” Travinski said of his counterpart. “We were able to put a run up on him and that does the job.”
Neither team made any errors in support of their pitcher playing on the artificial surface at Mon County Ballpark.
“They made plays, they did their job, we handled the ball well, everything was clean and I was able to get us out of innings,” Travinsky said. “We were able to go in, put a run up early, and get out of it.”
“Our guys have a lot of confidence, we have a mature group,” Sherald said. “If you go out there and get a pitching outing, just like Bell gave them, you’re going to have the chance to stay in an win a ballgame. That’s a testament to Dylan for giving us a chance.
“That was just a really good high school baseball game with two really good pitchers competing. Fortunately, we were able to come out on the winning side.”
The Mohigans will return for day two of the MVB Mon County Classic today with a game against North Hills (Pa.). First pitch is scheduled for noon.
Morgantown 1, Hurricane 0
HURR 000 000 0 — 0 3 0
MHS 100 000 x — 1 2 0
HURRICANE — Gress 3 0 2 0; Witty 3 0 0 0; Johnson 3 0 1 0; Lester 2 0 0 0; Sloan 2 0 0 0; Skinner 3 0 0 0; Bell 3 0 0 0; Ocheltree 3 0 0 0; Harris 2 0 0 0. Totals 24 0 3 0.
MHS — Mazey 3 0 1 0; Galusky 1 1 1 0; Jamison 2 0 0 0; Fluharty 3 0 0 0; Nutter 2 0 0 1; Bailey 2 0 0 0; Cottle 2 0 0 0; Montague 2 0 0 0; Boggs 2 0 0 0. Totals 19 1 2 1.
WP: Travinski 7ip, 0r, 3h, 2bb, 8k
LP: Bell 6ip, 1r, 2h, 3bb, 11k
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