By Brent Osborne, WVMetroNews.com
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Woodrow Wilson rallied behind a big performance from starting pitcher Michael Maiolo and held on for a 1-0 Region 3 semifinal win over rival and Class AAA No. 5 Greenbrier East on Tuesday night.
“They are a good rival and a very good ball club,” said Woodrow coach Mark Daniel. “It was a game that could go either way.”
The Flying Eagles (17-13) were helped along the way by the arm of Maiolo, who threw 7 scoreless innings, giving up only six hits and striking out 11 against a very good hitting Spartans team. Greenbrier East (19-6), which was looking for a second straight state tournament appearance, overall stranded seven runners on base in the game.
Maiolo ran into some of trouble in the top of the 2nd as the Spartans threatened with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. The sophomore pitcher battled back to strike out the next three batters, ending the threat.
Flying Eagles’ senior Cameron Lane led the bottom of the 3rd inning off with a shot to the left field fence for a stand-up double. Senior Eddie Wilson laid down a sacrifice bunt attempt where East pitcher Colby Johnson threw out Lane trying to advance to 3rd. However, a couple of Spartans’ miscues later in the inning would help lead to Wilson scoring the game’s only run.
Woodrow Wilson will return to action Wednesday night for a chance to claim the AAA Region 3 title the Flying Eagles will be on the road at No. 6 Ripley.
“We have to put the ball in play a little better,” Daniel said. “Ripley will be a big challenge for us – with only eight teams left in the state, they are all going to be tough.”
Ripley (23-11) won its regional semifinal game back on Monday, defeating No. 4 South Charleston 11-3.