HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A five-run sixth inning for the No. 4 Logan Wildcats broke open what was a competitive Class AA quarterfinal against No. 5 Doddridge County. Logan secured safe passage into Thursday’s semifinal round with a 10-3 victory over the Bulldogs.
Leading 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Logan sent eight batters to the plate in the frame and they scored five runs with three base hits.
“We played well. We came out a little tight, I think. But Doddridge is a heck of a ball club,” said Logan head coach Kevin Gertz. “We finally loosened up and finished them off at the end. We got all the pitchers today throwing off this mound that I wanted to get to throw.”
Doddridge County took an early 2-0 lead with a two-run double from Luke Rokisky in the top of the first. However, Logan scored four runs in the second inning to take a lead they would not relinquish. Rob Ball hit a two-run home run off the Marshall Baseball Clubhouse building in left field to spark the four-run inning.
“That dude is going to play college football. This year, about the seventh or eighth week, he benchpressed 385. And he is probably our fifth fastest guy on our team.”
Designated hitter Jaxon McClung went 2-for-4 for the Wildcats and he led the team with three runs batted in. Tanner Akers led Logan (22-12) with three hits.
Gertz cycled through three pitchers with an eye towards having as many available arms for the next round as possible. Starting pitcher Ivan Miller logged 3.2 innings while Cross Conn (3 innings) and Owen Bryant combined to collect the final ten outs.
“When they came out with the pairings the way they were, and the days that we play, we knew we had to keep guys under 75 to be able to go Thursday. We have done that this year. I want everybody available. You don’t make it to the final without winning in the semifinals. Wheeling Central is unreal. But we think we are as good as they are. We are coming out to play.”
Thursday’s semifinal between Logan and Wheeling Central is set for 5 p.m.
Rokisky drove in all three runs for Doddridge County (26-10).