Game Recaps: Class A State Semifinal Action
June 6, 2014
By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting
Day one of the 2014 West Virginia state tournament began with runs being scored in bunches and ended with pitchers dominating the nightcap. Following are recaps of both Class A semifinal games played on Thursday.
Notre Dame 15 , Gilmer County 6
Gilmer County's CF Nathan Allison singled to drive in a pair of runs to give the Titans a brief 2-1 lead in the 3rd inning. Notre Dame answered with five runs in the 4th, three runs in the 5th and capped their offensive explosion with six more runs in the 7th to win going away 15-6.
Josh Baker, Jordan Miller and Anthony Belcastro (right) each scored three times, while Belcastro led all Irish hitters with four RBI. Senior RHP T.J. McKinsey worked five innings to record the win allowing five runs on six hits while striking out four Titans hitters.
Allison led the Gilmer County attack going 2-for-4 with the two RBI.
Man 3, St. marys 1
The night cap was the Braden Griffin (right) show. The 6-foot, 180-pound junior LHP/OF went 3-for-3 at the plate and pitched 6.1 innings of three hit baseball for the win. The lefty mixed a low 80s fastball with a sharp breaking curveball to cruise through the first six innings. After walking two he gave way to LHP Ryan Adkins who came on to throw a total of two pitches while inducing a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.
Man got on the board first when Griffin hit a double to the left-center field gap to drive in Tyler Blair who had walked. Blair drove in Kenny Adkins with a two out single in the 5th inning to extend the lead to 2-0. Following St. Marys scoring its lone run of the evening in the top of the 6th inning the Hillbillies answered with their final run scoring on a wild pitch.
Jarrod Lough finished the night with two of the Blue Devils' three hits and scored the only run on a Johnny Riggs ground out. RHP Robbie Harper was the hard luck loser allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out five.
highlights from day one
+ In addition to having a big night with the bat, Notre Dame 2B Anthony Belcastro impressed with his legs. The senior scored from 2B on a sacrifice bunt by McKinsey in the 5th inning.
+ Man 1B Noah Maynard made a terrific diving stop of a ground ball on the foul line and calmly fed the ball to Griffin getting over from the mound for the out.
+ The 7th inning might have played out differently for St. Marys had Man RF Baley Beckwith not made a highlight reel catch. The junior made a diving catch in the bullpen down the right field line for the first out of the final inning.
+ For scouting notes and measurables on top performers from Day One action see the WV Scout Blog.
additional WV Playoff news:
- WV WV Regional Tournament Tracker5.30.14
