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Kinker pitches Midland into AAA final

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As sharp as Seth Kinker was pitching Cabell Midland into the Class AAA state title game, he still required a seventh-inning visit from his coach.

And what strategy did Tracy Brumfield impart exactly?

“He told me, ‘Stop being a wussy and throw strikes,'” Kinker said.

The junior right-hander, who had just issued his only walk of the night while trying to close out a 5-0 win over Woodrow Wilson, followed his coach’s advice and kept his four-game shutout streak intact.

Kinker’s two-hit complete game Friday night propelled Midland (23-10) into a championship showdown against Hedgesville (28-7). That matchup is scheduled to start around 5 p.m. Saturday, the final contest in this year’s state tournament at Appalachian Power Park.

Dominant as ever, Kinker faced only two batters over the minimum against Woodrow Wilson. He was perfect until the fifth inning when Hunter Halstead launched a one-out double off the left-field wall.

“I’ve kept the ball down my last four starts and I haven’t given up a run in my last for starts,” Kinker said. “But Woodrow Wilson is a good team, and they have some sneaky hitters. That kid that hit the double off the wall? I didn’t expect that, and I don’t think any of you expected that either.

“That was one of the few pitches I left up all night.”

Halstead was doubled off base two pitches later after Chris Metrick lined out to Midland second basemen Colton Tilley.

The only other baserunners for Woodrow Wilson (20-11) reached in the seventh via Cole Williams’ line-drive single through the middle and Hunter Greco’s walk, which led to Brumfield’s brief lecture.

The threat was extinguished when Kinker retired the next three batters, including a strikeout of Halstead to end the game. Kinker then rifled his glove from the mound all the way into the Midland dugout as teammates poured out..

“I was pumped,” he said. “The heat of the moment got to me.”

Woodrow Wilson coach Mark Daniel feared his lineup might be overmatched, particularly in light of Kinker’s recent hot streak.

“He got his breaking ball over and it caused us some problems,” Daniel said. “He threw strikes.

“We weren’t a great hitting team this year, and I really feel that we’re a year away from hitting well.”

Greco suffered the loss for Wilson, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks in 2 1/3 innings. Josh Rakes kept the Eagles in the game with 3 2/3 innings of one-run relief.

“Everybody wants to get here, but only one team’s going to win it,” Daniel said. “I hope that Cabell Midland goes on and wins it this year.”

Grady Elkins’ second-inning double gave Midland a 1-0 lead. Taylor Kuhn added a two-out RBI single, and Elkins scored the third run on the play when Woodrow Wilson third baseman Brent Osborne threw home late in a rundown.





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