CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Just when Fairmont Senior appeared on the cusp of finally winning a baseball state title, Herbert Hoover jolted to life.
Corey Bird’s two-run single began a two-out flurry in the sixth inning when Hoover scored six times to stun Fairmont 7-5 in the Class AA championship game.
“We usually have one inning a game when we bust out, and that was our inning,” said Bird, the Gatorade player of the year in West Virginia.
“I feel let-down. We’ve been down here four years in a row and we haven’t won anything.” — Fairmont pitcher Andrew Strand
The Huskies (31-4), who two days earlier used a five-run seventh to survive their semifinal game against Independence, were forced to be comeback kids again Saturday, trailing 5-1 entering the sixth. But Fairmont left-hander Andrew Strand began laboring as singles by Todd Thomas and Zach Callen and a two-out walk to Sean Dotsun loaded the bags.
That ended the day for Strand, who said he still felt strong despite throwing 100 pitches. Fairmont coach Steve Naternicola turned to Matthew Robbins, and Bird promptly roped a single that cut the deficit to 5-3.
After Hunter White trickled an RBI single through the right side, Ryan Shamblin blooped a hit to right that brought home Bird for a 5-all tie.
The outburst continued as Robbins wild-pitched White home and Cody Bowen’s infield single made it 7-5.
“It was unbelievable,” lamented Strand after Fairmont’s title chances evaporated in mere minutes.
Hoover coach Brian Young, whose squad was shutout in last year’s state championship game, figured this season’s club was better equipped offensively.
“We’ve had a bunch of two-out rallies and scored a lot of two-out runs this year,” Young said. “Our kids stepped up and did exactly what they needed to do.
“For whatever reason we just weren’t seeing the ball very well (against Strand) and he kept us off balance. We got a different viewpoint (against Robbins) and were able to hit the ball.”
Just as Bird was the offensive catalyst with a 2-for-3 day, the Marshall recruit also took the mound for the final three innings in relief of Tristan Fields. “Go shut ’em down,” Young told him.
Bird responded with four strikeouts in a scoreless stint. His only tight spot came in the sixth when Fairmont’s Brandon Plivelich and Bailey Mohr hit back-to-back singles. But Robbins bunted hard into force out at third base and Bird retried Fletcher DeVaul on a soft come-backer to squash the threat.
The seventh inning proceeded more easily for Bird, who tossed his glove toward the sky after the final out.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “I’ve dreamed about this ever since we lost the state title last year.”
Now, it’s Fairmont left to ponder another near miss. The Polar Bears, perpetual visitors to the state tournament, came into this year’s event as one of the state’s most successful programs never to have won the crown. After seven runner-up finishes — 2011, 2008, 2005, 2004, 2003, 1996 and 1946 — No. 8 left some players inconsolable.
“I feel let-down,” said Strand, a senior. “We’ve been down here four years in a row and we haven’t won anything.”
“It’s awesome. I’ve dreamed about this ever since we lost the state title last year.” — Herbert Hoover senior Corey Bird
Fairmont (27-7) broke a 1-1 tie by scoring four times during a fourth inning that featured two controversial plays.
The first came on Gage Hannah’s safety squeeze that scored pinch-runner Matthew Strand, though Hoover catcher Matthew Farmer scooped up the bunt a few feet in front of the plate and asserted he made a tag on Strand. (Both Farmer and Fields stared at the home plate umpire with mouths agape.)
Two runners remained aboard as Fields grabbed a chopper in front of the mound and trapped Ryder Skarzinski venturing off third. After a couple rundown throws, Skarzinski tried to barrel through Fields’ tag at home, resulting in the second out. But then the pitcher whirled and threw wildly toward third attempting to pick off the trailing runner. As the ball skipped into left field, two Fairmont runners raced home.
After umpires needed a few moments to sort out the play, they wiped off the two runs, keeping the score 2-1 by claiming the play was dead when Skarzinski failed to slide at home. (Skarzinski was ejected and, if the SSAC letter of the law is followed, could be forced to miss the first football game next season.)
“The official made the call, and evidently it was correct,” said Naternicola. “I told Ryder to make contact with the guy in the baseline. I didn’t know he was going to bowl him over. He’s used to playing football.”
But the base-running hubbub became a moot point when Fairmont scored three more runs anyway, using RBI singles by Mohr and Robbins and an errant pickoff throw by Fields to go ahead 5-1.
All that did was set the stage for a Hoover comeback.
“Our guys, they’ve been focused and driven,” said Young. “For them to finish it off like this speaks wonders of their ability, their heart and their pride.”