Last season ended in heartbreak for Independence when it fell to eventual Class AA champion Herbert Hoover 7-3 in the state semifinals on a walk-off grand slam.
But with eight starters returning from that team, the Patriots are back in the hunt. After an initial season-opening 9-6 loss to Greenbrier East, Indenpendence won seven straight games prior to Saturday’s loss to Ravenswood.
Senior Wyatt Adkins entered the past week hitting .563 with five homers and 14 RBIs.
HURRICANE HANDS NITRO FIRST LOSS
Hurricane rallied with two runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings to beat Nitro 6-5 on Wednesday night. Tate Brock and Austin Hensley both delivered RBI hits in the bottom of the seventh.
Hurricane (7-1), which overcame four errors in that win, had an easier time with Lincoln County on Friday, winning 16-0.
Nitro (10-1) rebounded with a couple wins later in the week, 7-0 over Wayne and 11-1 vs. Capital. The Wildcats this week are one of many West Virginia teams set for play in the Mingo Bay Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
FAIRMONT SENIOR WITH JUST ONE LOSS
Fairmont Senior (9-1) has looked strong again in 2014 after reaching the state championship game a year ago.
The Polar Bears, whose lone loss entering the week came at University 6-3, returned six starters from last year’s team, and senior Bailey Mohr has played even more significant role on the mound.
CLASS A CATHOLIC SCHOOLS SQUARE OFF
Charleston Catholic handed Madonna its first loss of the season, 9-8, over the weekend. Some of the other finals from the Catholic tournament included Charleston Catholic over Wheeling Central 15-10, Madonna beating Parkersburg Catholic 10-7 and Madonna edging Notre Dame 4-3.