Southern West Virginia Talent on Display
April 29, 2018
hurricane 10, ST. Albans 3
As usual my trip south was met by some much appreciated hospitality off the field and solid talent on the diamond. It was great to reacquaint with some familiar faces.
The much anticipated State Championship rematch was somewhat anticlimactic as Hurricane left no doubt that they deserve their present number one ranking.
Early on it appeared the game would live up to it's hype. Nick Loftis, No. 3 in the WV Class of 2019, was able to retire Hurricane without damage in the first. Jake Carr, a West Virginia recruit and the No. 2 ranked prospect in the Class of 2019, then excited the already raucous crowd with a solo home run to deep right center.
Hurricane wasted no time in responding. Chandler Kelley (pictured right), a Marshall recruit and the No. 5 ranked prospect in the Class of 2019, started what would be a memorable day with an RBI single. Nathaniel Dunham, No. 21 in the WV Class of 2018, then quieted the home crowd with a two run bomb giving the Redskins a 3-1 lead.
Hurricane blew the game open in the third thanks to some timely hitting combined with multiple Red Dragon defensive miscues. When the dust had settled four singles and three errors resulted in an 8-3 advantage.
St. Albans was aided by a Ridge Lester (No. 8 in the WV Class of 2019) double and a Chayce Matheny (No. 36 in the WV Class of 2018) single in tallying single runs in the fifth and sixth.
Chandler Kelley completed a perfect 4-for-4 day by doubling twice and driving in two for the 10-3 final score.
Multiple hit games were registered by Hurricane's Kelley (4-for-4, 2 R, 4 RBI), Tyler Cox (2-for-4, 1 RBI) and St. Albans' Carr (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR). Liam Bailey (No. 11 in the WV Class of 2018) picked up the mound win allowing two earned runs over six innings.
HURRICANE 7 SPRING VALLEY 3
Hurricane was back at it early Saturday trying to avoid a letdown in visiting Spring Valley on senior day.
Spring Valley had a difficult time refocusing after the pregame recognition of it's senior class. The Timberwolves allowed three Redskin's run on only one hit in the top of the first.
Hurricane extended the lead to 5-0 in the second when Chandler Kelley picked up his fifth consecutive hit over a two day span. Moorehed State recruit Noah Short (No. 4 in the WV Class of 2018) also singled in a run.
Spring Valley clawed back in the fourth. Tanner Akers doubled, Nick Radcliffe singled and the Redskins had difficulty executing their bunt defense. As a result the Timberwolves got right back in the game at 5-3.
Hurricane again took advantage of some Spring Valley generosity in the fifth. Three walks and two singles resulted in two runs, establishing the 7-3 final.
Multiple hit games included Hurricane's Jake Allen, a Daytona State JC recruit ranked No. 22 in the WV Class of 2018, (2-for-4) and Spring Valley's Tanner Dixon (2-for-4). Tyler Cox went the distance for the Redskins on the mound. The sophomore allowed no earned run and struck out seven.
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