MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — South Charleston Post 94 brought in the big-bats reputation but couldn’t match the surprising outburst unleashed by Morgantown Post 2 on opening night at the American Legion state tournament.
Connor Leone’s bases-clearing two-out double was his second hit during an eight-run third-inning as Morgantown claimed an 11-7 victory over the tourney’s presumed favorites Wednesday night.
The double-elimination bracket continues through Saturday at Hawley Field.
“We’ve played South Charleston in the past and not had much success,” said the catcher Leone, who went 4-for-5. “A lot of times we were 10-runned by them.
“But it’s a different atmosphere coming out in the state tournament. Our bats woke up. Everybody was hitting and you could tell we wanted it.”
Though Morgantown (20-15) owned the worst record in the six-team field, the hosts—composed primarily of players from Morgantown and University high schools—relished a chance to make a statement against South Charleston (30-10).
Attempting to win its first state title since 2007, Morgantown trailed 3-0 before seven straight batters reached to open the third inning. Left fielder Albert Eddy hit a two-run single and second baseman Travis Renner added a two-run double preceding Leone’s double to left-center.
After South Charleston closed to within 8-6 with three runs in the bottom of the third, Morgantown right fielder Dakota Carr countered with a two-run double in the fourth.
“It’s the state tournament—there’s no rankings, there’s no seedings,” said Morgantown coach Tyler Barnette. “You just play however it shakes out. And we got a tough draw playing a powerhouse like South Charleston.
“They’re probably one of the best teams we faced all season. I’m speechless about the way our guys played. Just elated.”
Barnette was thrilled with the relief pitching of Colton Sanders, a junior from Morgantown High who allowed one run over the final six innings, making the most of fastball that occasional touches the low-80s.
“I knew we had the lead so I was just going to go and throw strikes,” said Sanders. “I just try to keep them off-balance.”
The skinny 160-pounder seemed to be laboring in the eighth but told his coach and catcher he intended to close out the game.
“Winners want the ball in the hands,” Leone said. “(Sanders) came in the dugout and said, ‘I’m finishing it.’ And we let him.
“He’s been a big part of our staff all year. He’s got a dirty two-seam (fastball) and tonight they weren’t doing much with it.”
South Charleston will play again Thursday at 3:30 p.m. against defending state champion Elkins (26-19), which won 6-4 over Romney (21-14).
Morgantown gets the 7 p.m. slot opposite Fairmont Post 17 (27-9), which got seven RBIs from Fletcher DeVault and rolled to a 13-3 win over Wheeling Post 1 in a game shortened to seven innings.
Thursday’s noon elimination game features Romney vs. Wheeling.