HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Sherman’s Luke Tagliente faced just one batter over the minimum over five shutout innings and the Tide used a combination of patience at the plate and speed on the base paths to take their Class A quarterfinal contest over Madonna, 10-0 in five innings.
The Tide scored five runs in the second inning and added two more in the fourth and three in the fifth to bring an early end to the last of the four quarterfinal matchups on Day 1 of the state tournament.
Sherman needed just four hits in the contest to secure the run-rule victory. Tide batters worked out 11 walks in their five innings at the plate. They stole eight bases and took advantage of nine wild pitches and four passed balls.
“We worked on being patient and we took what they gave us all night,” said Sherman head coach Jeremiah Pettry. “It ended up being a 10-0 game. We’ll take that any day.”
Tagliente allowed a single to the game’s leadoff batter and another in the fifth inning. Those were the only baserunners against him on a night where seven of the 15 outs he recorded came by way of strikeout.
“He threw a heck of a game. That’s what we expected out of him. He’s given all he’s got this year. He threw a heck of a game for us tonight. He stepped up.
“You are going to see a little more of Luke on Thursday. He said he is already ready. The ball is in his hand.”
Tagliente, JonAaron Seacrist and Oliver Harless each scored two runs for the Tide. Elijah Jeffrey and Colby Atkins had run-scoring hits for Sherman.
Playing at the state tournament for the first time in 36 years, Sherman has booked a spot on Semifinal Thursday.
Sherman (25-8) will face No. 7 Pendleton County (17-16) in the second Class A semifinal at approximately 1 p.m.
“You don’t even have to say anything. Just look at the crowd. It is all maroon. The community has been behind us the whole time. It has been 36 years. You saw the 1990 team up there. I am proud of all of these community guys for showing up.”
Reno Fuscardo and Evan Kaczmarek had base hits for the Blue Dons (16-14).