CHARLESTON — When Charleston Catholic’s Thomas Blaydes struck out Moorefield’s Grant Keller in the fourth inning of Sunday’s Class A title game, it looked as though it would mark the second out of the inning.
Little did anybody know it would actually turn the contest in the Yellow Jackets’ favor.
Keller reached on a passed ball combined with a throwing error to first, and came around to score what proved to be the game-winning run in Moorefield’s 4-2 victory over the Irish at Appalachian Power Park.
“This team is unselfish and resilient. They just do the little things that it takes,” Moorefield coach Wade Armentrout said. “A lot of preparation goes into playing two games and needing to win two games at the end of the season, but these guys are willing to do it. They make extra effort, they study the game and they’re great about helping each other out and picking each other up.”
With the victory, Moorefield (27-11) repeats as Class A champion.
After Keller reached, Jayden Moore doubled to left to put two runners in scoring position for MHS. Thomas Williams, the No. 9 hitter, followed with a sharp single to center that allowed Keller to cross the plate.
After the Irish (27-11) recorded the second out, Isaac VanMeter sent a ground ball to third base that was thrown away and enabled Moore to score and the Yellow Jackets to double their lead.
“It came down to who blinked first, and I guess we blinked in the fourth inning and they did not throughout seven innings,” Catholic coach Bill Mehle said. “That’s a credit to them.”
Charleston Catholic had a good opportunity to cut into its deficit in the sixth inning.
After Blake Watts retired the first two batters of the frame, Connor Blakley singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Izak Young followed with a single to right, but Moore came up firing to the plate and catcher Lance Ours tagged Blakley in plenty of time for the final out of the inning.
“Those plays you don’t see very often, but in a game like this where it’s absolutely critical, we’re just hoping that everybody is going to execute the way they should,” Armentrout said. “Jayden has played a great right field for us the second half of the season and that’s the third time he’s done that.
“The throw was right on line and Lane is tough back there. He’s a fantastic catcher for us.”
The Irish’s Parker Ross connected for a two-out single in the seventh, but Watts got Blaydes to hit a fly ball to left for the game’s final out.
Charleston Catholic took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after three consecutive two-out singles, the last of which came off the bat of Will Strickland to score Blaydes.
But the Yellow Jackets got even in the home half of the first as Watts singled with two outs to bring home leadoff batter Brent Moran.
Catholic regained the lead in the second on Marshall Pile’s two-out RBI single, although Moorefield answered again with a two-out RBI single from Williams to tie it at 2 after two innings.
Moorefield starting pitcher Derek Hoyt allowed a leadoff single to Pile in the third, but managed to throw his first scoreless frame.
Hoyt was taken off the mound for Watts prior to the start of the fourth. The left-hander came on and retired the side in order prior to his team going on top for good.
Watts allowed four hits over four scoreless innings to earn the win. He struck out four and did not issue a walk.
“I just had to be ready no matter what,” Watts said. “They told me that I was first in relief and to start getting ready and I was feeling good in the bullpen.
“Coming in there strong and striking the first couple guys out was a great confidence builder for me. After that, I felt like I had great control of my stuff and I was really feeling good.”
Blaydes pitched six strong innings in defeat, allowing four runs — two of which were earned — on eight hits. He struck out five and did not issue a free pass.
Watts and Williams had two hits apiece in the win, while Ross and Blaydes both had two hits in defeat.
“It was a seven-inning dogfight and a good baseball game,” said Mehle, who has 499 career wins. “Hats off to Moorefield and we hope to match up with them about 365 days from now. We’ll start getting to work on it.”
