GRAFTON, W.Va. — Two-time defending Class AA state champion and No. 1 ranked Bridgeport rallied for five runs in the seventh inning to beat Grafton 10-6 in a Region 2 high school baseball semifinal on Tuesday.
The Indians (27-6) finished with just five hits on the day, but took advantage of three Grafton errors in the final stanza complete the comeback.
“We had some resiliency and the team rallied behind each other,” said Bridgeport coach Robert Shields. “Some of these kids fail to realize what it takes.
“You have guys up there battling, working the count and trying to get on because you need baserunners and you have other guys making mistakes – you can’t have that,” he continued. “I’m not used to that for Bridgeport baseball. I’m glad we get to go on another day, but we had a lot of mistakes.”
Grafton led 4-0 after the first inning and 6-4 after the three innings as Justice Keener and Chris Smith both belted two-run home runs apiece in the loss.
“We’re as good as they are,” said Grafton coach Josh Ashbey. “We proved that tonight and we beat them earlier in the year. I feel like we are the two best (AA) teams in the state. I wish them luck, I hope they win states and I think that they will.”
The Bearcats scored all six runs off of Bridgeport starter Hunter Haddix who went 2.1 innings on the mound. Tanner Furbee threw 4.2 innings of relief giving up four hits and no runs while striking out six for the Indians.
“Tanner was excellent,” Shields said. “He held them scoreless. What more could I ask for? He came in and shut the door on them.”
Ross Marra finished with four RBIs in the win for Bridgeport, while J.T. Harris sealed the victory with a two-run home run in the seventh. Bridgeport moves on to host Frankfort Thursday in the Region 2 final.
