CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Prior to the start of Saturday’s Class A semifinal against No. 4 Saint Joseph Central, top seed Moorefield had its starting lineup introduced.
Rather than each player come out individually, the Yellow Jackets gathered on the first base line collectively, taking the field as a group.
It was a sign of how tight-knit Moorefield is and a fitting introduction for a team that seemingly has a different player step up each game.
“We were going to walk out with each other knowing that we were going to do whatever it is as a team,” MHS coach Wade Armentrout said.
What they did against Saint Joseph was dominate from start-to-finish in a 10-0 five-inning win that puts the Yellow Jackets in Sunday’s title game against the winner of the other Class A semifinal Charleston Catholic/Wheeling Central.
Against the Irish, it was cleanup batter Blake Watts’ turn to shine. Watts finished 3-for-3 and drove in six runs, keying the Yellow Jackets to the runaway win.
“He’s just been swinging the bat really well this week,” Armentrout said. “During batting practice, he’s been hitting line drives all over the field. I actually told an assistant coach earlier in the week that Blake would have an opportunity. I just had a feeling that somewhere along the lines if we were going to get a chance at Game 2, he was going to have a big impact — and he did early.”
Moorefield (26-11) came out hot and had no difficulting dominating from the outset despite an 8:30 a.m. start time.
The Yellow Jackets loaded the bases against Saint Joseph (21-11-1) starting pitcher Lenny Washington in the home half of the first inning. Watts then cleared the bases with a double to left that gave MHS a 3-0 lead after one inning.
“I got a lot of sleep last night. I got up early and came prepared and a got a lot of swings in the couple days prior,” Watts said. “I’m seeing the ball well.
“I was just trying to hit the ball hard and square it up. I was thinking gap, but just trying to hit it hard.”
That was more than enough offense for pitcher Isaac VanMeter, who was in control throughout.
Moorefield’s Wade Armentrout interview
After issuing a leadoff walk in the second, VanMeter induced a double play ball to shortstop, and the Yellow Jackets added to their lead with a four spot in the home half of the second.
“(The early lead) really puts us in a good situation,” Armentrout said. “He throws a lot of strikes anyway, so if they’re going to make contact, we can just basically play for outs at that point.”
Hayden Baldwin singled to drive in Thomas Williams, before Watts singled to score Brent Moran for a 5-0 lead. Later in the inning, Baldwin scored on a passed ball and Lane Ours lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Watts.
The Yellow Jackets continued to pour it on in the third inning as they scored three runs with two outs. Baldwin’s single to left drove in Williams and Watts added a two-run double to right for a 10-0 lead.
Although the Irish produced three baserunners over the fourth and fifth innings, they weren’t able to push a run across, which ended the game in the middle of the fifth.
VanMeter struck out seven and allowed three walks while walking three in five innings.
Lenny Washington, who doubled off VanMeter in the first inning, suffered the loss. Washington scattered seven runs on five hits in two innings. He struck out four and issued four base-on-balls.
“An opportunity came early in the game when we got those baserunners on and Blake Watts did a great job of helping us take advantage of that opportunity,” Armentrout said. “You can’t let those opportunities get away against a good team.”