MORGANTOWN — Two games into the season and the University High School baseball team has learned it has a potent offense.
On Wednesday, the Hawks (2-0) beat Wheeling Park 11-3 and then on Friday, UHS rolled to a 13-1 mercy-rule-shortened victory over Buckhannon-Upshur.
“Hopefully that trend continues,” UHS head coach Brad Comport said. “It’s really good to see the team ready right away. We got three quick outs and then put some runs on the board. That makes the whole game easier.”
Just like the win over the Patriots, UHS put up a big number in the first inning. On Wednesday, UHS scored nine runs in the first. Against the Buccaneers, UHS scored five runs on two hits and one B-U error.
University scored one run when Wenkai Campbell reached base on an error and then added on four more runs as Mason McDonald drew a bases-loaded single, Daniel Grabo added an RBI fielder’s choice and Max Cash drove an RBI sacrifice fly to right field.
McDonald is one of three transfers on the team for the Hawks as he and Riley Anderson transferred in from Morgantown and Mason Chaney transferred from Preston.
On Friday, it was Chaney who provided some power as he slugged a lead-off home run in the fourth inning. It was his first hit as a Hawk.
“This has been great,” Chaney said of the transfer to UHS. “It was a hard decision. I liked a lot of the guys at Preston and coach (Glen) McNew was great.”
Chaney said the decision came down to academics.
“For me, the transfer was strictly about academics,” Chaney said. “It’s been a bonus to be on a great baseball team.”
All three of the transfers proved pivotal on Friday as Anderson went 1-for-2 with a run scored, McDonald went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs and Chaney had the solo homer.
“All three are really good baseball players but also have been really good teammates,” Comport said. “They have infused themselves right into our culture. We feel like they’ve been here longer than they have. They’ve been major contributors for our program so far.”
UHS scored two more runs in the second when Chaney scored on an error and Campbell added an RBI sacrifice fly to center. The Hawks added six runs in the fourth as McDonald and Campbell each had doubles and Brock McDonough added an RBI single.
“It can be difficult for guys to play together that aren’t familiar with each other,” Comport said. “The best teams that I have seen, have typically been kids that have come up playing together their whole lives. It’s been a little different with this group than last year, but they’ve been impressive with how they have come together in such a short amount of time.”
Sophomore James Bryner started for the Hawks and pitched two innings. He struck out four, allowed two hits and walked three. Campbell (1-0) picked up the victory as he pitched the middle two innings with three strikeouts while Brodee Latocha pitched the final inning and struck out the side after allowing a leadoff single.
Latocha was the only UHS player to collect two hits as he had a single and a double with two runs scored from the leadoff spot. Campbell and McDonald each had doubles while Chaney added the home run.
Drayden Rice led the Buccaneers with two hits including a double. Jerin Westfall took the loss for B-U as he surrendered seven runs.
University returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Linsly at 5 p.m. at Dale Miller Field. UHS is still waiting for the artificial turf installation at its home Shilling Field.
By ERIC HERTER
BOX SCORE
University 13, Buckhannon-Upshur 1, 5 innings
B-U 001 00 – 1 4 4
UHS 520 6X – 13 7 0
BU – Marple 2 0 1 0, Rice 3 0 2 0, Jer. Westfall 1 0 0 1, Jad. Westfall 3 0 1 0, Parsons 2 0 0 0, Mason 1 0 0 0, Runyon 2 0 0 0, Jev. Westfall 2 0 0 0, Gordon 1 1 0 0. Totals: 18 1 4 1.
UHS – Latocha 3 2 2 0, Chaney 2 3 1 1, Anderson 2 1 1 0, Campbell 2 2 1 2, McDonald 2 2 1 2, Grabo 2 1 0 1, Cash 2 0 0 1, McDonough 2 1 1 1, Seggie 1 2 0 0. Totals: 19 13 7 8.
2B – BU: Rice. UHS: McDonald, Campbell, Latocha.
HR – UHS: Chaney
WP – Campbell 2ip 0h 0r 0er 1bb 3k
LP – Jer. Westfall 1ip 3h 5r 2er 2bb 2k
SOFTBALL
Trinity Christian 18, Paden City 0, 3 innings
Trinity Christian 22, Paden City 0, 3 innings
MORGANTOWN — The Trinity Christian softball team had won just one game over the last two years. The Warriors won twice on Friday alone, dominating a doubleheader against visiting Paden City.
The Warriors (3-0) beat the Wildcats by a combined score of 40-0 in the twin billing, needing just six total innings to do so.
In game one, three Warriors each had three hits and three RBI — Paige Hopkins, Peyton Moore and Marlo Flecker. Hopkins hit a home run while Moore hit a triple and a double and Flecker had a pair of doubles. Jillian Conn, Hannah Dunham, Hannah Titus and Arlie Humphreys all had two hits.
Hopkins started in the circle and struck out five in three innings.
In game two, Hopkins had two hits, a triple, and drove in four runs. Moore had four hits, a double, and drove in three. Titus had two hits and three RBI.
Conn pitched the nightcap and did not allow a hit while striking out six across three innings. Paden City’s lone baserunner came via a walk.
Trinity Christian 18, Paden City 0, 3 innings
PC 000 — 0 2 1
TCS 990 — 18 19 0
TRINITY CHRISTIAN — Conn 3 2 2 2; Hopkins 3 3 3 3; Dunham 2 2 2 1; Moore 3 3 3 3; Titus 3 1 2 1; Flecker 3 2 3 3; Kelley 1 2 1 0; Humphreys 2 2 2 2; Lohmann 2 1 1 0. Totals 22 18 19 15.
2B — TCS: Flecker 2, Dunham, Titus, Conn, Moore.
3B — TCS: Moore.
HR — TCS: Hopkins.
WP: Hopkins 3 ip, 0r, 2h, 1bb, 5k.
Trinity Christian 22, Paden City 0, 3 innings
TCS 985 — 22 14 0
PC 000 — 0 0 4
TRINITY CHRISTIAN — Conn 1 4 1 0; Hopkins 3 3 2 4; Dunham 1 2 1 1; Moore 4 1 4 3; Titus 2 2 2 3; Flecker 3 1 1 0; Jenkins 1 0 0 0; Kelley 0 2 0 0; Knight 2 1 1 0; Humphreys 2 2 1 1; Baston 0 1 0 0; Kurilko 2 2 1 2; Hovatter 2 1 0 0. Totals 23 22 14 14.
2B — TCS: Moore.
3B — TCS: Hopkins.
WP: Conn 3ip, 0r, 0h, 1bb, 6k.
