Blue Eagle sophomore Bentley Knight drilled a single down the first base line to knock in Landon Herrick and push the Blue Eagles past Weirton Madonna, 6-5. April 29 at New Martinsville’s Mullett Field.

The Blue Dons went down in order in the top of the first, but the Eagles got a lead off single from Seth Pay and a two-out double from Mason Rine in their home-half. However, they both were left stranded with neither team denting the scoreboard.

Madonna got on the board in the second, as they got a lead-off single and scored on a two-out RBI double. In the home half, Traeh Keller doubled and scored on a Landon Herrick ground out to knot the game at one.

Maddona singled twice in the third and later scored on a two-out double in the top of the third. Pay doubled to start the third and later scored on a Justin Fox ground out.

The Blue Dons went down in order in the top of the fourth. Chuckie McElaney doubled to start the fourth and Jordan Moore singled. However, McElaney was dead at the plate on a nice throw from the Blue Dons’ left fielder. The Eagles threatened when Keller then reached on a fielder’s choice, but both Moore and Keller were left stranded in scoring position after four innings of play, with Madonna holding a 3-2 lead.

The Dons went down in order for the second straight inning in the fifth, while Pay started things off in a good way for Magnolia with a one-out double and scored on a Drew Goddard ground out to knot the game at three.

In the top of the sixth, Madonna led off with a home run to give the guests a 4-3 lead. In the home half of the sixth, Rine led off with a walk and Moore singled to open the door for a big inning. Herrick would send them both home on solid double, setting up some fireworks at Mullett Field.

With the Eagles on top by one run, Head Coach Dave Cigar handed the ball to Fox, the Blue Eagle closer, who retired the first several batters, but then walked a batter on a close pitch at the knees. Fox intentionally walked the Blue Dons’ best batter, then gave up a hit to force extra innings.

“Justin came in with a 0.39 ERA and I wouldn’t have wanted any other player in the state on the mound,” said Cigar.

The Eagles were unable to score in the home half of the seventh and neither team could muster any offense in the eighth. But, in the home half of the ninth, Pay tripled, but was left stranded.

Madonna had the basses loaded with one out in the top of the 10th, but freshman hurler Kyle Elliot and his defensive unit shut the door to end the threat. Magnolia picked up a two-out single from Moore in the home half, but the Eagles couldn’t get him in.

In the top of the 11th, Maddona got a two-out double and a walk, but the Eagles’ new hurler, Mason Rine, shut the door with some nifty pitching.

Herrick doubled to start the bottom half of the 11th, while Elliott and Pay each walked to load the bases for pitch-hitter Knight, who was up to squeeze in the winning run. But, when the count got full, he belted one down the first base line that nipped the edge off the first-basemen’s glove that scored the winning run.

At the plate for the Eagles, Pay was a home run short of the cycle with a single, two doubles and a triple, while Knight had the game-winning RBI single. Moore added three singles, while the red hot bat of Herrick added a single, two doubles and plated three base runners. McElaney and Keller each chipped in with a double.

Rine was the pitcher of record for the Eagles and struck out three and walked one to get the victory from the mound.

Weather permitting, the Eagles should finish up the regular season at home against Wheeling Park May 4, Union Local on May 5 and Warren Local on May 7 before hosting Tyler Consolidated in the double-elimination Class AA Region I, Section I Sectionals May 10.

*****

Chuckie McElaney and Justin Fox combined on a two-hitter for the Magnolia Blue Eagles April 28 against the North Marion Huskies in Mannington for an 8-2 victory to push their impressive record to 16-4 on there season.

The game started with each team collecting a run in the first frame. The home-standing Huskies touched up McElaney in the third with a run to grab a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth frame.

The Eagle bats came to life in the top half of the fifth and, with the help of a couple Husky errors, Magnolia would muster two more runs to grab a 4-2 lead. The Eagles tacked on two more runs in the sixth and added three insurance runs in the seventh to win the season series.

McElaney and Fox both struck out three batters, with McElaney getting the win and Fox the save. Andrew Goddard, Mason Rine, Bentley Knight and Jordan Moore each brought home runs on singles.

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River Pilot Joey Asturi smacked a doubled, belted a home run and drove in five runs, but it was not

to turn back River from a 13-12 win April 27 at Mullett Field.

With one out in the top of the first, the Pilots’ Devan Potts singled and Tyler Stewart walked. Both were chased home when Asturi blasted a pitch over the fence to give the Pilots a 3-0 lead. Teammates Kyle Fisher and Jordan Potts each singled and would come around to score before the inning ended to make it 5-0, Pilots, heading into the bottom of the first.

The Eagles’ Pay walked to start things off in the home half and scored on a Mason Rine single. But, he was left stranded after one inning of play. Nether team scored in the second inning, but in the third frame, the Pilots got a two-out solo home run by Tucker “Downtown” Brown to make the score 6-1.

Just when it looked like the Big Red Machine had a comfortable lead heading into the bottom of the third, Eagle freshman Chuckie McElaney was hit by a pitch and scored when Justin “Tank” Fox singled. Mason Rine doubled to advance Fox to third and Davey Howell walked to load the basses.

Jordan Moore did not waste the opportunity. He belted a grand slam home run that tied the game up at six. However, the Eagles were not done. Landon “Road Runner” Herrick was hit by a pitch and scored on a Drew Simmons double for a 7-6 Eagles’ lead after three innings of non-stop baseball action.

In the top of the fourth, the Pilots got a lead-off walk and a single, but could not push a run across the plate. In bottom half of the inning, McElaney singled and Fox reached on an error for the home-standing Eagles. They both scored on a double by Rine. Tanner Hanna came in to pinch run for Rine and scored on a Howell sacrifice fly to deep center field for a 10-6 Eagle lead after four innings.

For River, Asturi walked with one out in the top of the fifth and scored on a Fisher single. Jordan Potts singled to score Austri. Brown walked and the next batter grounded back to Rine to start a double play. The next Pilot batter reached on an error, scoring Jordan Potts. The Pilots worked a walk to load the bases. However, the Eagles went to their ace, Fox, to get the last out of the inning.

With one out, the Eagles’ Drew Goodard pitch-hit for Jason Keller and got a single. Pay would then blast one over the right field fence for a two-run homer for a 12-8 Eagle advantage. McElaney then singled and Fox walked, but the next two batters popped out to end the fifth inning.

Drew Goddard relieved Fox and, after inducing an out, he walked Asturi, who later scored on a Jordan Potts single to narrow the gap to 12-9 Eagles, mid-way through the sixth.

The Eagles failed to score in the sixth, opening the door for the Pilots in the top of the seventh. The Eagles would use three different pitchers. Treah Keller started the inning but, when the Pilots got the first two runners on by way of a single and a walk, Cigar handed the ball to McElaney.

That returned the Pilots to the top of their batting order. Devann Potts greeted the Eagle freshman hurler with a fielder’s choice that put Pilot runners on the corners. With two outs, Asturi blasted a double to knot the game up at 12 and give the Pilots new life.

Pay opened the seventh and crushed a 2-2 pitch over the right center field fence for a walk-off home run.

Fox was the winning pitcher in 1-2/3 inning of work, striking out two. Leading the way offensively for the Blue Eagles was Pay with two home runs, including three RBIs and the game-winner. Moore hit a grand-slam and Rine smacked two singles and a double, while plating three. He pitched 4-2/3 innings, striking out three and walking three. Simmons added a double and an RBI, while Fox had an RBI single. Howell added a sacrifice fly.

For the Pilots, Fisher took the loss from the mound in two innings of work, striking out two and walking one. From the plate, Asturi led the way with a double and home run, while knocking in five RBIs. Jordan Potts drilled three singles that brought home three runs, while Devan Potts smacked two singles and a double. Brown singled and smacked a home run, while Zac Wax singled twice and Blake Price singled once.