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Bledsoe’s 10th-inning double lifts Bees to 3-1 win at North Marion in postseason opener

RACHEL, W.Va. — By the fifth inning of Tuesday’s Class AA Region I, Section 1 matchup between East Fairmont and North Marion, it was apparent runs were at a premium in the postseason opener for both teams.

Bees’ starting pitcher Connor Tingler was especially sharp, while Huskies’ starter Will LeMasters was also effective before giving way to Cole Malnick, who shined in relief.

The game had the feel of one likely to be decided by what team could produce a timely hit in a critical spot first, and that proved to be the case.

It just so happened that didn’t occur until the top of the 10th inning, when Brody Bledsoe, East Fairmont’s No. 9 hitter, belted a two-out double to break a 1-all tie and lift the Bees to a 3-1 road victory.

“He got his pitch, saw it well and squared it up nicely,” Bees’ head coach Joe Price said. “Really proud of this group, because that was a total team effort.”

Conner Graffius drew a one-out walk and Jakob Vincent worked a base-on-balls with two outs to set the stage for Bledsoe. The Bees’ second baseman made the most of his opportunity, connecting for the hit to centerfield that allowed Graffius to score the go-ahead run. The throw into the infield was mishandled, and in turn, allowed Vincent to score the third EFHS run.

Freshman Owen Music, who logged 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, retired the Huskies (13-8) in order in the home half of the 10th to wrap up the win, which he recorded.

“He’s a freshman on paper, but out here between the lines, he’s no freshman,” Price said. “He dials it in and he’s a competitor. That’s why we went with him.”

East Fairmont (17-10) had difficulty capitalizing on scoring chances throughout the matchup, but produced the game’s first run when Carter Brown singled to center with the bases loaded to bring home Bledsoe.

However, with the bases loaded and one out, LeMasters never wavered and struck out Joseph Alvaro before inducing a fly ball to right from Graffius for the final out to keep his team’s deficit at one run.

North Marion’s only hit through the first seven innings came in the third when Brock Martin singled to position runners at the corners, and it helped lead to the Huskies’ only run, which was scored by courtesy runner Logan Payton after Tingler was called for a balk.

The Bees loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Malnick struck out consecutive batters to keep the game tied.

“Both pitchers for both teams did outstanding jobs,” Huskies’ head coach Vic Seccuro said. “Tingler was very effective. LeMasters started out really well and they only got a run off of him. We brought Cole in and he did a great job. Just gave up the one hit late and it’s a tough way to lose.” 

EFHS had another strong scoring opportunity in the sixth with runners at first and second and one out, but Malnick induced consecutive ground ball outs to prevent the Bees from gaining a lead.

In the bottom of that inning, the Huskies got a leadoff walk from Landon Adams, and courtesy runner Brock Kincell eventually worked his way to third with two outs, but Tingler got Rylan Craig to bounce out to first to end the threat.

“He was around the zone all night and just mixed it up well,” Price said of Tingler. “Defensively, we played lights out and had some great plays at first and our right fielder made some great catches.”

Neither team mustered a baserunner in the seventh, and Malnick retired the Bees in order again in the eighth, presenting an opportunity for North Marion to score a walk-off win.

Malnick led off the eighth with a single, but never got into scoring position — not even after Tingler was forced to come out due to his pitch count with two outs in the frame. That brought Music to the mound from shortstop, and he got Colin Hess to hit a ground ball his way for the final out of the eighth.

East Fairmont then positioned runners at the corners to start the ninth, getting a leadoff walk from Bledsoe, which was followed by Music’s bunt single.

Needing only a productive out to go in front, the Bees couldn’t manage one. Malnick recorded the first two outs on fly balls nowhere near deep enough to bring in Bledsoe, before he struck out Brown to escape unscathed.

Yet after Music retired the Huskies in order in the ninth, the Bees’ offense came to life at the perfect time, allowing East Fairmont to welcome Oak Glen for a winner’s bracket game Wednesday. The Golden Bears won Tuesday at top seed Fairmont Senior.

“Always good to get that first one,” Price said. “These guys know that and that’s why I’m so proud of them. They battled the entire evening. They did not settle for anything less.”

North Marion will look to prolong its season Wednesday when it welcomes Weir for an elimination game.

Tingler struck out nine, walked five and scattered two hits while recording 23 outs. Music did not surrender a baserunner while recording seven outs, four of which came on strikeouts.

Bledsoe had half of his team’s four hits to match the Huskies’ entire output.

LeMasters overcame control issues to allow only one run on one hit in 3 1/3 innings. He walked seven and struck out five.

Malnick, over 6 2/3 frames struck out 10 and walked four. He was charged with the loss after allowing a pair of runs on three hits.

“We shouldn’t have been in that predicament,” Seccuro said. “We walked their No. 8 hitter and we were looking to get him, but he got on and then Bledsoe got the timely hit.”





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