CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With where he hits in the lineup, Charleston Catholic’s Will Strickland knows he’ll often have a chance to drive teammates in.
Strickland, the Irish’s No. 5 hitter, made the most of those chances in Saturday’s Class A semifinal against Wheeling Central.
The Irish catcher broke a tie with a two-run double in the fourth inning, then cleared the bases with a triple in the sixth that allowed Charleston Catholic to top the Maroon Knights, 10-4, at Appalachian Power Park.
“I can’t say enough about Will. That’s the 37th game he’s caught for us this season,” Charleston Catholic coach Bill Mehle said. “I talked to him over the winter about if you want to hit in the heart of the order, catch a lot of games and compete in the postseason, you better get in good shape because the legs are the first to go. You’re not going to be able to hit effectively as we get deeper into the season otherwise.
“He took that advice and really worked on legs and his core over the winter.”
The victory sends the second-seeded Irish (27-10) into Sunday’s Class A title game against No. 1 Moorefield.
Charleston Catholic’s Bill Mehle interview
After Wheeling Central (22-10) had tied the game at 4 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, Strickland put Charleston Catholic on top for good in the bottom of the inning with a two-out double that scored Marshall Pile and J.W. Armstrong.
“I was just trying to get on and do the best for the team,” Strickland said. “At that point, give us the lead and give everyone else a chance to do what they do best.”
Pile, the Irish’s starting pitcher, was forced to come off the mound in the fifth due to pitch count restrictions. He gave way to Thomas Blaydes, who retired all four batters he faced in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Irish put the game out of reach with one Strickland swing in the home half of the sixth. A hit batsman combined with an error and walk allowed Charleston Catholic to load the bases with no outs, and Strickland belted a triple to left to score all three baserunners for a 9-4 lead.
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Evan Sayre’s sacrifice bunt scored courtesy runner Andrew Strickland for the game’s final run.
Blaydes retired two of the three batters he faced in the seventh before coming off the mound with 29 pitches so that he can start against the Yellow Jackets.
“I’m sure as hard-nosed a competitor as he is, he’ll be fully available and ready to go tomorrow,” Mehle said.
The Maroon Knights got off to the start they were hoping for with pair of first-inning runs. Avery Lee led off with a triple and scored with no outs, before Sonny Peluchette singled to center to bring home Kyle Newmeyer.
But the Irish wasted no time responding, plating a pair of runs in their half of the first to get even. Pile led off with a double and scored on a wild pitch, while Armstrong singled to score Parker Ross.
“That’s a momentum buster when they come back and get two,” Central coach Bo McConnaughy said.
Wheeling Central left a pair of runners in scoring position in the second and third innings, while Charleston Catholic stranded the bases loaded in the second.
The Irish produced a pair of runs in the third for their first lead, scoring on a bunt from Sayre that led to a Maroon Knights’ error and Peluchette’s second balk of the inning, which brought home Andrew Strickland.
“We preach make the routine plays, hit with men on base and good pitching,” McConnaughy said. “We didn’t get any of those today.”
Central scored twice in the fourth, capitalizing on a hit batsman and Lee’s infield single. With Jacob Rine on third and Lee on second, Angelo Gentile sent a ground ball to short that resulted in an error and both runners scoring to tie the game at 4.
But that was all the offense the Maroon Knights could muster, as Blaydes threw two scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts.
Pile picked up the win after allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked a pair.
Peluchette took the loss after allowing eight runs on 3 1/3 innings. He scattered three hits and issued six walks after coming on for Adam Murray, who allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Will Strickland finished 2-for-3 with five RBIs to lead all hitters.
“It was pretty special,” Strickland said. “I can’t really think of a bigger moment, but we’ll see tomorrow.”