MORGANTOWN — May 9 was a win two weeks in the making for Morgantown.
After dropping their first match-up with cross-town rival University, on April 23, the Mohigans struck 13 hits, paced by home runs from Andrew Kerzak and Colton Matthews, as they downed the Hawks, 12-10, in the second round of double-elimination sectional baseball action.
“This is a pretty big win for us,” MHS coach Mark McCarty said.
The Hawks struggled early on at the plate, tallying just three runs through the first five innings. MHS put heavy pressure on the opponent at the mound, slowing one of the toughest offenses in Class AAA.
UHS head coach Buck Riggleman attributed his squad’s early struggles to a lack of aggression while at bat.
“We took too many strikes and got ourselves in a hole, and that’s not what this team does,” he said. “We’ve been aggressive at the plate, jumping on pitchers early and putting the pressure on the defense. We didn’t really do that.”
The Hawks fell behind by nine runs entering the bottom of the sixth inning, but were not ready to quit. Riggleman had faith his team could rally all along.
“I never questioned their ability to come back. I thought they could do it,” he said.
His foe in the opposite dugout, who has seen what UHS can do before, was nervous by the thought of a comeback as well.
“There’s never a safe lead against them,” McCarty said. “I’d be surprised if you find a better hitting team in the state.”
|Sure enough, the Hawks drove home seven runs to close out the sixth, leaving them trailing by two runs.
McCarty, naturally, was sweating bullets.
“I just wanted to 10-run (mercy rule) them and get out of there,” he said.
Fortunately for the Mohigans, they turned three quick outs in the bottom of the seventh to seal the casket for their rivals.
“I like the way that they battled back. They showed fight, and we can do it. We have the capability to win that ball game,” Riggleman said. “We get one more timely hit in the sixth, the game is tied.”
The win gives MHS a bye tonight, as the Hawks will move on to host winner of Wednesday’s Buckhannon-Upshur and Preston game, at Mylan Park.
The winner will have to face MHS on Thursday, and win twice to move on.
Riggleman is slightly concerned about having to play from behind in a must-win situation, but thinks his team is adequately prepared for the challenge.
“I told the boys right there, you have to win tomorrow to earn the right to fight another day. If we take it one game at a time, we’ll be OK. It just makes the road harder,” Riggleman said. “I hope it motivates us. I think the fire was lit with that rally, and I think if we can keep our composure and keep building on that, we’ll be fine.”
McCarty, on the other hand, isn’t quite sure the win provides much of a mental advantage at all — only physical.
“It’s no different if we had to win two. We have to win the first one. If we don’t, the pressure equals out and it’s back on both of us again. That next game is very important; just as important as this was,” McCarty said. “It does give our arms another day to rest, and that obviously helps. We’re glad about that.”
Matthews led the Mohigans at the plate, tallying three hits, driving home three runs and scoring three times. Gavin Cottle added three RBIs.
Meanwhile, Kaden Metheny led the Hawks in hitting, tallying three hits and driving home two runs. Trevor Barnhart added two RBIs.
Caleb Taylor pitched the win for MHS, while Cam Stoldt earned the loss on the mound for UHS.
