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Game of the Day: Sherman at Man

May 27, 2015

By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting

The Man Hillbillies kept their defense of a 2014 Class A state title alive with a thrilling 2-1 extra-inning walk-off win last night over Sherman 2-1. The Hillbillies advance to the Region III - Class A championship game on Thursday with the win and will travel to Greater Beckley Christian.

Sherman got on the board first when they strung together three consecutive hits for the early 1-0 lead. Bailey Kirk singled, advanced to second on a single by Braden Harrah and scored on a double by Trenton Sheppard for the Tide's only run of the game.

Man was held scoreless through five frames and looked to be in danger of being shutout until John Thomas Keffer changed things with a one-out solo home run in the bottom of the 6th to knot the game at one. Both teams went down in order in the 7th inning sending the game to a decisive 8th inning.

Braden GriffinMan starter Jake Adkins was dominant on the evening working 7.1 innings with 15 strikeouts. He gave up just the single 2nd inning run and just one hit in innings three through eight. Following a hit batter and a ground ball out that advanced a runner into scoring position, Adkins was relieved by Braden Griffin (right) who promptly recorded two strikeouts to get Man out of the jam.

Sherman starter Aaron Lowe was just as impressive. The senior lefty went 7.2 innings allowing just four hits and two runs while registering 18 strikeouts. The 8th inning began much the same way that most innings had all night. Lowe got back-to-back strikeouts and appeared to be in good shape to send the game to the 9th. Braden Griffin, a West Virginia State recruit, got the Man rally started with an infield single. A decision was then made to take the bat out of Keffer's hands when Sherman intentionally walked him to move Griffin into scoring position. Mikle Scott Rowe followed with an infield single to load the bases and Austin Gent sent the Hillbillies fans home happy when he singled to center field on an 0-2 pitch to score Griffin for the walk-off win.

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