Mountaineers Offense Explodes Late, Defeat Blue Sox

By Nolan Potts
It took eight innings, but Massanutten’s bats finally woke up at Stonewall Memorial Park as the Mountaineers defeated the Blue Sox by a final score of 14-5.

Elkton got on the board twice in the first inning on a two-run single by Josh Tayman that scored Logan Hicks, who reached on a hit by pitch, and Tyler Stobbs, who reached on a walk.

In the top of the second inning, Massanutten would cut the deficit to one on an RBI groundout by Harrison Madagan that scored his older brother Haden from third base.

Elkton would get the lead back to two in the third inning after an RBI single off the bat of Trent Coffey.

From there, no runs would be scored until the sixth inning when the Mountaineers scored on a bases-loaded balk to make the score 3-2.

Elkton (1-21) led 3-2 entering the eighth inning after seven strong innings on the mound from starting pitcher Jake Barker. The right-hander allowed six hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out four and kept the Mountaineers bats in check. On the other side, Massanutten starter Jaden Click pitched seven innings and allowed just two hits while really settling down after a rocky first inning to pick up the win.

After 112 pitches from Barker, Elkton went to the bullpen, and that’s where the Mountaineers (12-10) were able to find some success. Haden Madagan led off the eighth inning with a walk. Pinch hitter Bodie Pullen sacrificed him over to second base, and then Harrison Madagan drew a walk. Nate Brookshire ripped a double to left field to score Haden Madagan and move Harrison Madagan to third. Drew Hawkins then walked, and two batters later Matt House singled to drive in Harrison Madagan and make it 5-3. Nick Arnold then reached on an error which enabled two runs to score, and then Dawson Russell doubled to score Arnold to make it 8-3.

Elkton would get a runoff of Massanutten reliever Andrew Baugher in the bottom of the eighth when a passed ball allowed Jamal Neal to scamper home and make the score 8-4.

The Mountaineers’ bats stayed hot in the ninth inning. Pinch hitter Brady Hoover led off the inning with a double, followed by a Harrison Madagan Walk. From there, Massanutten tallied five straight hits: singles from Nate Brookshire, Drew Hawkins, and Andrew O’Brien, and then triples from Matt House and Nick Arnold. 

It was 14-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but Elkton tacked on a run after a towering home run off the bat of catcher Zach Hafer.

Brookshire and House each had three hits and two RBI for Massanutten, while Arnold and Harrison Madagan each had two hits and one RBI.

For Elkton, Tayman, Coffey, and Hafer all had a hit and one RBI, while Zach Coburn and Jamal Neal each had one hit a piece.

Massanutten is back in action on Tuesday night when they host Broadway, while Elkton is back at it on Wednesday night when they travel to Stuarts Draft.

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