By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting

Day two of the 2013 West Virginia state tournament picked up where Day one had ended, with a pair of one run games being determined in the final inning.

magnolia 4, notre dame 3

The Irish scored single runs in each of the first three innings and carried a 3-2 lead into the 7th inning, but could not hold off a late Magnolia rally in the Class A semifinals.

Tanner Hanna's single scored two in the top of the 7th inning to propel the Blue Eagles into today's championship game opposite Charleston Catholic at 1:00pm.

Magnolia was limited to just three hits in the game, but the Blue Eagles were aided by 11 walks and being hit by pitch twice.

charleston catholic 6, valley fayette 5

Central Catholic squandered a 5-3 lead in the top of the 7th inning, and if not for two runners being thrown out at the plate would have gone to the bottom half of the inning trailing. The Irish responded with a run of their own on a Connor Golden walk off single with the bases loaded and nobody out to advance to today's championship game.

Golden finished the game 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. Nelson McKown, a Washington and Jefferson recruit, also had two hits in four trips for Catholic. Valley was led offensively by catcher Cody Winter who went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

Keifer Hovorka picked up the win in relief of fellow University of Charleston recruit Andy Hoyer.

Hedgesville 6, Parkersburg South 3

In the first game of the tournament not to be decided in the final inning, Hedgesville advanced to the AAA championship game behind timely hitting, solid pitching and sloppy defense by their opponents. The game appeared to be following a trend from the previous four played in the state tournament with Hedgesville clinging to a one run lead in the bottom of the 6th inning. That lead ballooned to 6-3 with one hit and three South errors to allow Hedgesville some breathing room in the 7th.

Eagles starting pitcher Cody Butts went the distance. He allowed just four hits and three runs, all of which came in the 4th inning. Butts pounded the strike zone giving up just one walk and struck out two on the evening. He also led the Hedgesville offense going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Hedgesville will take on Cabell Midland in the AAA championship at 5:00pm today.

Cabell midland 5, Woodrow wilson 0

The final game of the semifinal round turned into the Seth Kinker show. The junior RHP carried a perfect game into the 5th inning and finished the night with a complete game two hitter. He walked one batter, struck out eight and faced two batters over the minimum on the evening.

Sophomore catcher Aaron Elkins doubled home 1B Cody Ballengee in the bottom of the 2nd inning with the first run of the game and what turned out to be the game winner. The Knights went on to score three runs in the inning and added single runs in the 3rd and 5th to give Kinker more than enough breathing room.

Woodrow Wilson was limited to a one out double by sophomore 1B Hunter Halstead in the 5th and a leadoff single by DH Cole Williams to start the 7th inning.

news & notes from day two

+ Notre Dame served notice that they will be among the favorites to win the 2014 Class A title, starting nine underclassmen in the semifinals including two sophomores and two freshman.

+ Notre Dame freshman 1B Josh Baker was impressive with the bat. He has limited wasted movement in his swing and a flat bat path that allows the barrel to remain in the hitting zone for a long period of time. Baker went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.

+ Valley Fayette senior RHP Arik McGinnis sat 82-85, touching 86 several times. 

+ Parkersburg South had 13 seniors that played their final game in a Patriots' uniform. The seniors received their diplomas at home plate prior to the start of the game due to missing South's scheduled 7:00 graduation.

+ Cabell Midland RHP Seth Kinker sat 83-85 during his dominating performance. He also utilized a tight breaking 11/5 curveball that he effectively kept on the corners. His final pitch of the evening, a called strike for his 8th strikeout of the evening, registered 86 mph.

+ Cabell Midland sophomore catcher Aaron Elkins showed soft hands and athletic actions behind the plate. He registered a 2.15 between inning pop time and squared the baseball in all three trips to the plate. In addition to his double in the 1st inning, Elkins also flew out to left and center.

• WV - Jun 1, 2013
  State Tournament Blog
• WV - May 31, 2013
  State Tournament Starts With a Bang
• WV - May 30, 2013
  State Tournament Spotlight: RHP/3B Fletcher DeVaul