NUTTER FORT, W.Va. — A three-year absence from play at the state baseball tournament has ended for the Bridgeport Indians. BHS defeated Elkins, 7-2 in the championship game of the Class AAA Region II tournament, earning one of the two regional spots.
Hampshire and Robert C. Byrd will complete their suspended game Tuesday to become the second Region II team at the state tournament.
Playing just their third game in 15 days, Bridgeport fell behind in the top of the first inning. Trent Stone’s RBI double gave the Tigers (13-16) a 1-0 lead four batters into the game.
However, Owen Sondericker settled in after allowing an early run. He went the distance for the Indians on the mound. Sondericker allowed three hits, no earned runs, no walks and he stuck out nine batters.
“Owen was around the plate the whole game,” said Bridgeport head coach Robert Shields. “He hasn’t been on the mound very long.”
Sondericker gave the Indians all the offense they would need with a three-run double in the third inning. Bridgeport added another run in the third and they broke the game open with a three-run sixth inning.
“We were a little rusty at the plate, not seeing live pitching. We did as much as we could in practice to simulate. Obviously, we are going to have to do some more.”
Luke Rohrig, Kasen Baun and Guy Avolio also drove in runs for the Indians. Sondericker, Avolio and Brooks Vass each had two hits.
Elkins starting pitcher Owen Stanley pitched 5-plus innings. He allowed six runs (four earned). Stanley added a run-scoring double in the sixth inning to pull the Tigers within a run at 4-2.
Bridgeport (30-4) joins Shady Spring, Ripley and St. Albans as teams to qualify for the Class AAA state tournament field. The nine-time state champions will begin play at Marshall University’s Jack Cook Field on June 9.
“I think these kids have something that is set in their minds from the beginning of the year. The goal is not finished yet.
“We’ve got to make sure that we are focused at practices, pick our days that we can work on some of the things that need cleaned up and make sure we are in good shape for the Huntington heat.”