Carr leads St. Albans to MSAC crown, 2-0 over Hurricane

SAINT ALBANS, W.Va. — In a matchup of two teams that have resided atop the MetroNews power rankings for most of the season, two hits were enough for St. Albans to claim their first MSAC tournament championship, 2-0 over Hurricane.

No. 1 Hurricane outhit No. 2 St. Albans 5-2 but the Red Dragons scored all the runs they would need in the second inning. A hit batsman and a pair of walks allowed St. Albans to load the bases with nobody out. Darrin Flowers hit into a 6-4-3 double play but Noah Cummings scored on the play to give the Red Dragons a 1-0 lead.

Drew Whitman followed that up with an infield single that allowed Nick Loftis to score the final run of the game.

“We didn’t hit the ball well tonight… we didn’t hit the ball the whole tournament, but we found a way to win two games,” said St. Albans head coach Rick Whitman.

“You don’t get wins by having the most hits, you win by scoring the most runs. And that’s what we were lucky enough to do tonight.”

WVU signee Jake Carr was brilliant on the hill for the Red Dragons. He struck out ten batters in just over six innings of work, while scattering five hits. “I was throwing my fastball by hitters and they just couldn’t catch up to it,” Carr said. “I just pitched like I know how to pitch.”

“Jake Carr is Jake Carr,” Whitman said. “He is tough no matter who he is facing.”

Carr reached the 110-pitch limit after allowing a single to Tyler Cox with one out in the seventh. Chase Norris entered from the bullpen and retired the next two batters by strikeout to earn the save.

“Chase has worked his tail off to get into moments like that and he got the job done,” Whitman said.

Brenden Lewis took the loss for Hurricane. He allowed two runs in two-plus innings of work. Mason McKenzie pitched well in relief for the Redskins, shutting out the Red Dragons over the final four innings while striking out four batters.

Joel Gardner and Matt Vance each had multiple hit games for Hurricane.

The Red Dragons (27-4) have taken both meetings against the Redskins (24-3) and they are the only West Virginia team to defeat HHS this season. Carr picked up the win when Saint Albans defeated Hurricane 2-1 on March 22nd.

“Either game could have gone either way,” Whitman said.

“We were just fortunate enough to get both of them. If it works out, maybe there is a round three (at the state tournament). And hopefully we can get that one too.”





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