By Shawn Stinson
FRANKLIN – Pendleton County baseball coach Sam Yokum opened last season with a young and inexperienced team due to state officials delaying the state basketball tournament.
The Wildcats were nearly finished with a third of their schedule when the members of the basketball team were able to take to the diamond. The veteran players were inserted into the starting lineup as the younger players were relegated to backup roles.
Fast forward a year and Yokum is faced with fielding a young team once again. This time it is not because of the basketball tournament, but due to the lack of veteran leadership on the squad.
The young Pendleton team opened its 2022 season with a 16-4 victory against Pocahontas County in five innings on March 21 in Franklin.
The Wildcats were led by “youngsters” James Vincell and Allden Rexrode. Vincell, a freshman, went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, three runs and a double. Rexrode, a sophomore, was 2-for-3 with a triple. One of the “older” players on the squad, Landon Colaw, a junior, went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a double and three runs.
Colaw started the game on the mound for Pendleton. Colaw pitched 1-2/3 innings and allowed two runs on one hit. He struck out five. Cameron Beachler relieved Colaw and pitched 2-1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on one hit. He struck out two. Rexrode pitched the final inning and struck out the side.
“I didn’t know how we were going to react,” Yokum said. “We were trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the third before we got things going.”
Yokum added that he lost 13 players from last season’s team who played significant innings due to graduation or electing to not play this year. Yokum said he has no seniors on the squad with playing experience on the varsity level.
Pendleton is scheduled to return to action today when it plays host to Tygarts Valley at 5 p.m. in Franklin. Pendleton will battle Bath County at 5 p.m. Friday in Franklin.
