(Story by Luke Wiggs/Panhandle News Network)
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — To win their Mountain State-best 18th state legion championship, Wheeling Post 1 needed to do the improbable. Firstly, the Northern Panhandle club had eliminated their margin for error in the double-elimination tournament by losing their first game on Thursday, rattling off three victories to get to championship Monday. Secondly, they had to beat a Morgantown Post 2 team that had not lost in the month of July, not once, but twice.
Wheeling won five consecutive elimination games and two on Monday to finish the state tournament by hoisting the trophy and clinching a spot in next week’s regional.
Game one got off on the wrong foot. Wheeling fell behind when Morgantown jumped out to a 5-0 lead due in part to three consecutive run-scoring passed balls and a hit batsman with the bases loaded.
“The message to the guys this week was just to play to what is on your chest.” Wheeling coach John Michael Brunner said. “With the longevity of this tournament, it’s about playing with your heart. These 18 guys and five coaches put their egos aside and that’s why we rallied in the first game and carried it into the second.”
Wheeling began chipping away. An RBI double by Quinn Jamison and a run-scoring ground out by soon-to-be tournament MVP Alex Taylor made it 5-2. Three more runs were driven in during the sixth inning by Braxton Billick, Zade Billings, and Preston Cole to tie the game.
The finishing touch was applied by Billick driving in a pair of runs in the seventh to claim a victory in game one.
Depleted on pitching, Wheeling turned to the first game’s catcher Dillon Wilson to throw the second game. Wilson had thrown just two innings all season long for Wheeling.
“My trust goes to my assistants.” Brunner said. “Coach Henry handles the pitching and he had faith in Dillon and he’s the kind of kid who just wants the ball. He had caught every game so far and said he wanted it.”
Wheeling was forced to play from behind again when Morgantown scored a pair of runs in the third. The lead didn’t last long thanks to a two-run double by Taylor, who finished 6-for-19 in the tournament with six runs driven in.
“I’ve had Alex since he was 15.” Brunner said about Taylor. “The kind of kid he is, it just starts in his house, he’s a hard worker. For him to be named MVP, I know he’d turn around and give it to all of his teammates.”
Wheeling put the game beyond doubt with a 6-run sixth inning. The first trio of runners scored when Billick attempted a sacrifice bunt with two teammates aboard. Three consecutive throwing errors allowed all three baserunners to score. A Preston Cole safety squeeze and another two-run Taylor double made an 8-2 score line and Wheeling held on to to win the title.
Post 1 (29-7) advances to the Mid-Atlantic Regional which begins Wednesday, August 7 at Coppin State University in Maryland. Morgantown’s season ends with a record of 32-7.