MORGANTOWN — A 10-run third inning propelled Clay-Battelle to a 15-9 win over Trinity in the third game of the Mon County Classic.
The Cee-Bees jumped out to a 12-0 lead through three innings and held off a late Trinity comeback to collect their third victory of the season. In the third frame, the Cee-Bees sent 15 batters to the plate and they pounded out eight hits.
“We were being aggressive,” said Clay-Battelle head coach Kent Saul. ‘I told them on the first strike to hit the ball and jump on it. We were waiting back too far in the first two innings.”
Leadoff batter Mason Shorts was the offensive catalyst for C-B. Shorts went 5-for-6 at the plate with an inside-the-park grand slam in the third inning. Shorts also pitched the seventh inning in relief of starter Ty Chisler. “He was big for us today, and it was big for him to finish the game off on the mound,” Saul said.
Trailing 12-0 in the fourth inning, Trinity crept back into the game with three consecutive multi-run innings. The Warriors scored four runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth to creep within five at 14-9.
“When you take a punch in the mouth, you have to be willing to throw some punches back,” Trinity head coach Roy Schneider said. “They showed that they had some fight in them and I was very appreciative of that.”
Noah Watson went 3-for-4 for the Cee-Bees while Chisler and Hunter Brewer each added a pair of base hits. Evan Rice and Kyler Grimes each had two RBI for the Warriors. The Cee-Bees outhit the Warriors 16-10.
Both coaches were appreciative of the opportunity to compete at the home of WVU and the West Virginia Black Bears. “It is a big thing for our kids to get out here and participate on this field and know that their feet are in the same places they were,” Schneider said.
“Our kids were excited all day yesterday and today and it is a great thing for our kids,” Saul said.
