CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Bridgeport’s baseball program has grown accustomed to Saturday celebrations at Appalachian Power Park.
The Indians are two wins away from a sixth straight Class AA championship, but will have to first get past Shady Spring on Friday at 9 a.m. In the other semifinal later Friday, No. 2 Frankfort faces No. 3 Scott at Appalachian Power Park.
“I hope our schedule has prepared these kids for this,” veteran Bridgeport coach Robert Shields said. “It does help having guys that have played and been on the field, and several have been out there and started. It does ease my mind a little bit, but each game is different. We have to bring our ‘A’ game.”
Bridgeport (29-7) went 3-0 in sectional play and swept Lewis County in its regional series to reach this stage.
Of the Indians’ seven losses, six came against Class AAA opponents and the seventh was to an out-of-state opponent.
“This group of kids gets along so well that sometimes they’re almost too nice and we miss the grinders we used to have. But I think some of the boys are becoming grinders at the right time and we’ve played really well lately,” Shields said.
Shady Spring (19-9) has won seven straight and 11 of its last 12.
The Tigers allowed only two runs in a two-game regional sweep against Oak Hill. In four of its five postseason wins, Shady Spring has allowed a total of three runs.
“They’re a senior-laden team and a pretty solid group of players,” Shields said.
The other semifinal will mark the first-ever meeting between Frankfort (26-5) and Scott (28-7) — two schools 265 miles from each other.
It marks the second straight season the Falcons have reached the state tournament as they suffered a one-run loss to Wayne a year ago.
Frankfort has allowed nine runs in five playoff wins. The Falcons held Fairmont Senior to three runs in a pair of regional games and they’re unbeaten since a 2-1 loss at Bridgeport in the regular season finale — the team’s only loss this season to a AA school.
Scott’s appearance at states is somewhat improbable when considering the Skyhawks led for four of 23 innings in sectional play, won two of three sectional games by one run and overcame a 1-0 series deficit in the regional against Point Pleasant.
“We battled back in the sectional and then in the regional, we lost the first game and the next two were elimination games for us,” Scott coach Brett Kuhn said. “We’ve faced adversity in the postseason and answered the call.”
The Skyhawks have been electric offensively throughout the season, scoring 10 or more runs in 15 games, including 20-plus in four contests.
In three regional games against a strong Point Pleasant team, Scott totaled 21 runs. The Skyhawks also managed seven runs in a regular season loss to Bridgeport.
Something will have to give against Frankfort, which has held 11 straight opponents to three or fewer runs, including two or less in 10 games over that stretch.
“They don’t strikeout much, so that tells you they’re very well-coached and know how to put the ball in play,” Kuhn said of the Falcons. “They’re very strong defensively as well. Their pitchers don’t walk anyone.
“When you put those three factors together, they’re not going to beat themselves. We can’t sit around and wait for walks or wait for them to boot the ball around, because it’s not going to happen. We’ll have to go out and earn it.”
Class AA State Tournament Schedule
No. 1 Bridgeport (29-7) vs. No. 4 Shady Spring (19-9) – Friday, 9 a.m
No. 2 Frankfort (26-5) vs. No. 3 Scott (28-7) – 50 minutes after
Championship – Saturday, 4 p.m.