MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — University was in control throughout Monday’s Class AAAA Region I contest with Preston, though the Knights were always within striking distance.
When Preston strung together its first three hits in a stretch of four at bats during the sixth inning, the Knights had the tying run at the plate. With a pair in scoring position, UHS head coach Travis Renner called on Daniel Grabo as the team’s third pitcher of the day. Grabo followed by striking out Aydin Ward with two in scoring position, and went out to record a save with a scoreless seventh in the Hawks’ 4-1 victory that sends University (16-12) into a winner’s bracket matchup Tuesday against Morgantown.
“Daniel’s been a guy that we’ve been able to rely on late in games in big spots to get us outs and get us out of situations,” Renner said.
The Knights (8-10) trailed 4-0 throughout the third, fourth and fifth innings, while failing to record a hit over the first five frames. Jacob Kennison pitched the first four of those and James Bryner the fifth, but starting with Brady McNew’s double off the third base bag with one out in the sixth, Bryner ran into trouble.
Lyric Moats followed with a single to put runners at the corners and while McNew was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice to third that resulted in the second out, PHS produced its first run when Tanner Thomas followed with a single that led to an error and Moats crossing the plate, with Thomas and Robbie Lowe moving into scoring position.
That’s when Grabo came on and used his velocity to blow a fastball by Ayden Ward, allowing the Hawks to maintain their three-run advantage.
“Nothing against James. James was throwing the ball well and getting weak contact, but it was time to go to the guy you’ve put in that spot more than anybody else,” Renner said.
While Ward pitched a scoreless sixth during a strong relief appearance that featured 2 2/3 innings without allowing a hit or run, Grabo retired the first two batters of the seventh and then Wyatt Moyer for the final out after issuing a base-on-balls to Slaton Manko.
UHS capitalized on one of two Preston errors to start the bottom of the first, which in turn allowed Curtis Quarrick to reach second base.
Brance McCune followed with a single and both he and Quarrick would score moments later on Grabo’s single to center.
“When you start a game off like that, they’re going to have a little letdown and a little air comes out of you,” Preston head coach Glen McNew said. “The more you’re in situations like this, you start to learn from it and don’t let that stuff happen.”
A ground rule double off the bat of Tommy Montague allowed Grabo to score the third run of the first, and McCune would add a run-scoring single to make it 4-0.
Thomas, the Knights’ starting pitcher, settled in from there and did not allow another run, escaping a bases loaded jam with one out in the third, before giving way to Ward, whose outing began by inducing an inning-ending double play the next inning.
UHS had all seven of its hits over the first three innings, with McCune’s two leading all players in the contest.
“We got on our guys and told them we can’t coast, we have to keep putting pressure on and keep going,” Renner said. “We were working on it. We had bases loaded with one out and they were able to get out of a jam. We got guys on, but didn’t get the opportune hits that we were earlier.”
Kennison struck out three and walked two, while Grabo recorded three of his four outs via strikeout. Kennison consistently threw an effective breaking ball to keep the Knights off balance.
“He knows his game, commands the zone well and knows what pitches work in certain counts and against certain hitters,” Renner said. “He’s a good student of the game.“
Thomas and Ward both struck out a pair for Preston, which will play again Wednesday in an elimination game against Tuesday’s loser.
“Our pitching was great,” coach McNew said. “We have a couple plays we need to make and hopefully we’ll make those Wednesday and be ready to roll.”