By Luke Wiggs, Panhandle News Network Sports
MARTINSBURG, W.Va– Despite Panhandle teams going 3-1 in day 3 of the WV Little League State tournament, 1 squad saw their season come to an end.
Martinsburg 13-3 Elkins
A Brady Steen lead off triple set the tone for Martinsburg who came to play after being shut out yesterday.
Steen scored on a Braylen Cole rbi hit. Donovan Nichols, Thomas Garret, and Caiden Lackey all supplied RBI hits as well that saw Martinsburg plate 9 runs in the bottom of the first.
Nichols drove in 2 more in the 3rd, making his case for the all tournament team. Making it 11-1 Martinsburg after 3.
A Watson single drove in 2 for Elkins in the 4th to keep the game alive but Martinsburg scored 2 un earned runs in the bottom of the inning to secure victory.
The advanced to play Barboursville later in the day.
Barboursville 19-9 Martinsburg
Martinsburg jumped out to an early lead after another RBI hit by Donovan Nichols, but Barbousville answered in force and led the rest of the way.
Hampden Dellinger, who had quite the day, doubled in 2 runs in the second by a Gabe Brown 3 run Home run to right.
Brayden Green supplied the finishing touches driving in 2 more. It was 8-1 Barboursville after the half inning.
Martinsburg still had plenty of fight in them. Loading the bases and seeing 3 runners walked home in the bottom of the 2nd. 2 more scored on an error making it 8-6 after 2 innings played.
Cam Keller hit a monstrous home run in the top of the 3rd followed by a 2 rbi hit from Hellinger. Hellinger drove in another in the 6th along with RBI hits from teammates Paynter, Long, and Robinette making it 19-6 in the top of the 6th.
Martinsburg scratched across 3 more runs late but it was not enough to save their season. Nonetheless a valiant effort from the Panhandle side.
Jefferson 18-0 Chapmanville
8 runners crossed the plate for Jefferson in the first inning. Damien Vogel had a sac fly, Austin Spears an RBI hit, and Braden Brown stole home.
Among the 5 runs scored in the bottom of the second, Cicero drove in Roberts, Hutchinson knocked in 2 teammates, Mathias drove in 1, and Vogel another making it 18-0 after 2.
The run rule applied seeing only 3 innings get aged, but nonetheless Jefferson did not allow a base runner and advanced to take on Elk District.
Jefferson 12-2 Elk District
Jefferson, who was shut out in their loss yesterday, scored 30 combined runs in the 2 games today.
Braden Brown led off the bottom of the first with a home run to set the tone early.
Damien Vogel drove in a run as did Jacob Hutchinson, 2 more runners scored unearned. It was 5-0 after the first.
Jefferson plated 3 more in their next half inning. One on a wild pitch another on Mason Lowery stealing home, and the 3rd on a nifty 1st and 3rd play.
Elk District added a run in the top of the 2nd on a fielders choice and another on a 1st and 3rd play of their own.
Braden Brown ended the game with an RBI single giving Jefferson the 10 run rule win in the 4th. Jefferson advance to play at 8 pm tomorrow at Oatesdale Park.