By Stephen Smoot
Two programs with strong traditions and championship histories came together in Cooperstown, New York, last week. Jefferson, a top 10 squad in West Virginia Class AAAA, took on Pendleton County, a top 10 team in Class A.
The Jefferson Cougars escaped from New York with a 3-0 victory over the Wildcats.
Three teams made the trip with plans to play each other. Moorefield served as the third. Jefferson also defeated Moorefield 3-0, but weather prevented the matchup between the two South Branch Valley based squads. Temperatures remained in the 50s with winds blowing between 10 and 20 miles per hour with little sun to temper the chill.
Jefferson took care of business in the first half inning, setting down Pendleton County in order, but with hitters getting their bats on the ball. Mason Harper started on the mound for the Wildcats. In the bottom of the first, they put the leadoff hitter on second, but then gave up an out on a line drive to Travis Owens holding down second base.
Harper walked the next batter, but induced a pop out to second. A two out single brought the first run in, but Harper nailed down the inning with a pop out to Connor Hartman in centerfield.
Pendleton County could get nothing started in the second, but Harper followed with a one-two-three inning of his own, using his defense to get through the inning.
The third saw similarly little action as both pitchers dominated the batters. Only one man saw first base, and that was a Jefferson single. Pendleton County continued to field with confidence as Harper relied on them heavily to gain outs.
Jefferson picked up a single run in the bottom of the fourth, again with two outs. Chase Owens’ fielded the ball at short and beat the runner with the throw to first. Cohen Hiett came on in the bottom of the fifth, giving up a single, and the final run, also with two outs.
Jefferson pitched seven innings of no hit baseball, but Pendleton County’s staff rose to the occasion and pitched toe-to-toe against one of the most feared lineups in the state. Harper pitched very well, limiting Jefferson to two earned runs, only giving up a single walk. Hiett allowed a run in one inning pitched while Cole Harper and Cayden Boone combined for a single inning and allowed no hits between them.
The Cougars have posted big scores against bigger schools, defeating Spring Mills 10-1 and defeating decisively the Keyser Golden Tornadoes twice. They have 20 victories on the season.
For the Wildcats, the fielders played exceptionally well. They gave up only one error. Cole Harper had five put outs and Travis Owens four. For their part, the Wildcat pitchers rarely allowed Cougar hitters to get their full strength into their hits, many of their efforts ending in pop ups and ground balls that stayed inside the infield.
The winning pitcher, Andrew Rolfe, serves as the ace of a ridiculously great staff. He has four wins and one loss with an earned run average of 1.11. Two other pitchers on staff have ERAs under two and four and zero records. Another is three and one with a 1.48 ERA.
While Jefferson also has a solid group of batters, most hitting consistently well, Pendleton County outperformed a number of bigger schools in quieting their bats.
Monday night, the Wildcats traveled to Tygarts Valley for a makeup game that will determine seeding in the very competitive regional. On Tuesday evening, they hosted Elkins and will face Paw Paw tonight for senior night while closing against Hedgesville on Friday.
While the four remaining games provide a chance for the Wildcats to even their record at 14, the team’s rugged and challenging schedule has helped to strengthen their execution and prepare for tough potential regional matchups against East Hardy and Tygarts Valley.
Monday night, the Wildcats earned home field for the regional opener by defeating Tygarts Valley 8-3.
