CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Three takeaways from Jefferson’s 11-2 win over Nitro in the West Virginia Class AAA state championship:
Unbeaten in West Virginia.
During this season’s dominant run, Jefferson (36-3) won all 31 games against in-state competition. The Cougars lost twice to Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) and split with St. James (S.C.).
“It’s a point of pride in the community, and in the Panhandle it’s a good baseball area,” said coach John Lowery.
Crossing them off.
For the second consecutive year, left-hander Austin Cross delivered big in the state tournament. In 2015 it came during a relief appearance against Greenbrier East, and Saturday night brought a complete-game two-hitter with eight strikeouts.
Cross closed his junior season with a 10-1 record.
“He’s got a 0.50 ERA and it makes sense,” said Nitro coach Joe Gayda. “He’s a great pitcher. Hats off to him.”
Nitro’s defensive nightmare.
“Jefferson’s a really good ballclub and they just caught us on a really bad night,” said Nitro pitcher Andrew Stone after his team committed seven errors leading to six unearned runs.
Three miscues were charged to third baseman Jake Williams and three to shortstop Matt Harrison, a Marshall signee who spent most of his high school career in center field.
“Can’t dwell your whole season on just this game,” said Stone, one of eight Nitro seniors. “It takes a lot to get here, and normally our defense has been solid.”
Gayda even charged himself with an unofficial coaching error, waving home a runner from second on Stone’s infield single in the fifth. But Jefferson second baseman Alex Tennant, after diving to stop the ball in shallow right, threw a strike to the plate that left the runner out by 10 feet.
“I made a mistake trying to send the guy, trying to sneak one home, and obviously I take responsibility for that,” Gayda said. “Sometimes baseball will humble you.”