Through the season the two teams battled like, well, cats and dogs. Tygarts Valley and Pendleton County eyeballing each other across the mountain seemed to mirror each other in featuring strong pitching and timely hitting. Both sacrificed style points in their season record by taking on tough teams to strengthen their skills. Both moved in and out of the Class A top 10.
And both had to tangle for the second spot in the region to cross the state and compete for a state title.
In the first game of the regionals, Pendleton County defeated Pocahontas, 16-2.
The second game of the regional bracket, a 10-8 triumph for the Pendleton County over Tygarts Valley, took place on May 19. Then on May 20, Tygarts Valley eliminated Pocahontas County. After moving past Pocahontas County, Tygarts Valley awaited in the double elimination format.
After that, the deluge of much-needed and appreciated rain that kept the two squads from playing again until Monday night. Rest would certainly play a factor in game two, but to whose advantage?
Travis Owens led off for the Wildcats in the first game against Tygarts Valley, sending a ground ball to short and reaching base safely. Next the Bulldog pitcher dug himself into early trouble by walking the dangerous Jaxson Simon on four pitches. With two men on, Chase Owens ripped a line drive to his opposite field, scoring the two baserunners and landing on third. Tygarts Valley at that point, however, righted their ship and closed out the inning down 2-0.
In the bottom of the stanza, Chase Owens allowed two hits, but then closed out the side without further damage.
In the bottom of the second, Cole Harper earned a leadoff walk, but the Bulldogs worked their way out of trouble, despite dealing Noah Lockard a base on balls as well.
Not until the bottom of the third inning did the Bulldogs start to bark. Tygarts Valley loaded the bases with the first three batters, but Chase Owens recorded the first out on a three-pitch strikeout. A single with two runners in scoring position sent both in and tied the game at two. The second out came when Chase Owens struck out the batter looking, but two runners were once again in scoring position. A balk sent the runner on third in for a 3-2 advantage, but the pitcher then shut down the inning with a strikeout.
The Bulldogs picked up two more in the bottom of the fourth with another balk and also a home run. Their pitching then worked its way through a difficult fifth without allowing a run.
In the sixth inning, the Wildcats started clawing their way back. Landon Davis led off with a single, followed by another Lockard base on balls. Travis Owens took a walk on five pitches, leaving the bases loaded for Simon. On the second pitch to him, he hit a grounder to second that helped the opposition record the first out, but also sacrificed a run in.
That brought the Wildcats within striking distance for the seventh and final inning, but they had to dispatch Tygarts Valley in the bottom of the sixth first.
Tygarts Valley got the first two runners aboard before Chase Owens grinded out a six pitch strikeout. A wild pitch, however, allowed a seventh Bulldog run in, making the visiting squad’s comeback task that much more difficult.
Difficult, but not done. Mason Harper drew a walk to lead off the top of the seventh. Tygarts Valley got a strikeout next, but then Davis singled to short. That put courtesy runner Barrett Cook in scoring position at second base.
Lockard once again drew a walk in a key situation, loading the bases. Travis Owens stepped in, worked a three balls and one strike count, then drove the pitch to right field, driving in two runs and putting Connor Hartman on third. Two batters later and with two outs, Chase Owens knotted the game up with a line drive single to left.
Tygarts Valley closed out the top of the seventh with a strikeout and Travis Owens moved to the mound to battle Bulldog batters. He allowed the leadoff batter on, recorded a strikeout, then delivered a base on balls. The Bulldogs had the winning run in scoring position, but gave up a strikeout and a ground out to end the threat and take the game to extra innings.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Cole Harper singled to short. Davis laid down a sacrifice bunt softly down the third base side, advancing Harper to scoring position. Hartman came up next and was hit by the second pitch to him. Tygarts Valley then walked Travis Owens to load up the bases for Simon.
Simon looked at the first pitch called strike, then swung on the next pitch with no effect. The third pitch was fouled off, leaving the batter in a deep hole. Undeterred, he hit a line drive back up the middle, bringing home two runs. A Chase Owens fly to right added a 10th insurance run and now the Wildcats had control of their destiny.
Tenacious as Bulldogs, Tygarts Valley never quits. Their lead off batter earned a walk, but the second batter was set down in five pitches. Owens struck out the next batter in six. With two outs, the Bulldogs drove a single to left, posted a run, and looked for more. But a strikeout ended the threat and the game with the Wildcat win, 10-8.
Then came days and days of rain that allowed each team, especially the pitching staffs, to get well-rested. Bulldogs and Wildcats would greet each other next in Randolph County fully rested and battle tested.
A week’s worth of time took a hitters’ haven and turned it into a pitchers’ duel.
Just as a week before, Travis Owens set the tone of the matchup by hitting a single and getting on base, but this time Tygarts Valley shut down the inning with two strikeouts and a ground out. Chase Owens similarly in the bottom of the first allowed a single baserunner, but no runs.
The Bulldogs tamed the Wildcats in order in the top of the second, then put a run up in their half of the inning. Their pitching continued to tease Pendleton County, allowing one on, but then slamming the door shut on scoring opportunities.
Just as in the first regional matchup with the Bulldogs, the Wildcats would have to stalk and wait for opportunities, then pounce when given some.
In the third and fourth, both pitchers settled in and dominated the other side. Bulldog batters kept putting Chase Owens’ pitches in play, but could not get enough bat on the ball to drive them past the alert and precise defenders. Infield, outfield, it did not matter, the fielders covered the territory and kept the Bulldogs at bay.
Then in the fifth came an opening. Lockard led off getting hit by a pitch on a no balls and two strikes count. That little victory gained in magnitude when Travis Owens drove a double to left field to score Lockard and tie the contest at one. With Travis Owens in scoring position, Simon lifted a ball high to left. The first out was also a sacrifice run batted in that put Pendleton County on top 2-1.
Chase Owens defended the slender lead in the bottom of the fifth, leading the half inning with a strike out. The second batter flied out to left, but the third singled. With two outs, the Bulldog base runner tried to steal his way to scoring position, but could not beat the throw from Simon and closed out the inning.
Tygarts Valley shut down Pendleton County in the top of the seventh and entered their half of that inning needing only one to win the game and force another contest. They got a two out single, but Chase Owens remained in command and allowed no serious threat.
On to extra innings!
Tygarts Valley faced Chase Owens to start the inning, but retired the ever-dangerous clutch hitter on a strikeout. They then gifted a baserunner with a dropped third strike, putting on Mason Miller. The next batter, Cashton Kisamore, has the potential to drive the ball out, but head coach Sam Yokum elected to go with “small ball” and had him bunt. The bunt was fielded by the pitcher, but on the play, Miller made it all the way to third and Kisamore reached safely at first.
Small ball triumphed again when Mason Harper bunted back towards the pitcher who could not make the play. Harper was safe on the resulting error with both Kisamore and Miller making it home.
Tygarts Valley struck out the next two, but now faced a two-run deficit and Travis Owens on the mound. The first two outs came with near maximum efficiency on three pitches. The Bulldogs never go out easy, however. A two out batter lifted both the ball and his team’s spirits when he drove a pitch over the left field wall.
The next out came with a one ball and one strike pitch launched to right, but fielded by Kisamore to seal the trip to states with a 4-3 win.
One of the keys to wins in the regionals lay in Pendleton County’s ability to rely on youth. On the May 19 game, for instance, Davis went two for two. Both games saw sophomore Travis Owens step in and pitch like a senior in relief of brother, and team ace, Chase.
And this is why Class A teams such as Tygarts Valley and Pendleton County battle teams like Musselman, Jefferson, or why the Bulldogs would play up to Class AA and AAA teams on its own schedule. Both squads came into the regionals playing their best ball in all phases of the game. Both teams gave each other their best.
And that is when the victories come most sweet, when well-earned.
