By Stephen Smoot
Pendleton County made the beautiful bus trip south across the county line to face the Pocahontas County Warriors last week. They returned with a big win over a regional rival.
Travis Owens led off the game with a base on balls on five pitches. Two batters later, Chase Owens, hitting .586, belted a triple to center, driving his brother home for the initial run of the contest. Cole Harper shortly thereafter drove in Chase Owens with a double of his own.
The Warriors took the field down 2-0 with Mason Miller pitching. With only 14 pitches, he struck out the side in order, each one going down swinging.
Connor Hartman led off the Wildcat half of the second inning and drew a walk. Travis Owens, leading the team with a .750 batting average, dropped a bunt down the third base side to advance Hartman to second, and raced to first safely. With two runners on base, Jaxon Simon smacked a line drive to left. He rolled into second and also picked up two runs batted in.
Landon Davis came in to run for Simon and scored promptly on the next at bat. Chase Owens drove the first pitch to him down the third base side to make the score 5-0.
Next up came Mason Harper to bat. During his time at the plate, as pitches kept coming at him, Chase Owens kept swiping bases. After five pitches, Harper grounded out, but picked up a sacrifice RBI with the baserunner coming home. Cole Harper followed that by getting hit by a pitch.
The Warriors changed pitchers to face Cashton Kisamore, likely intimidated by his .500 batting average, but gave up a single and an RBI to him on the first pitch. The score at this point was 8-0, but the inning continued with Cooper Smith getting to first on an error. Hartman then loaded the bases with a single to second.
With one out, Travis Owens hit the second pitch tossed at him to center field and rolled into second with a double that drove in three runs, setting the score at 11-0, advantage Pendleton County.
The Warriors still had some fight in them even down 11. They got the initial two runners aboard, then Miller gained a strikeout. The next Pocahontas County batter walked on four pitches, but Miller set down the next batter with a strikeout in four. With the bases loaded, Miller walked in a run, but struck out the next batter swinging, leaving the bases loaded and the score 11-1.
Pocahontas County also had an opportunity in the bottom of the third. Miller allowed a double and a walk, but also struck out two. The Warriors, trying to get more runners in scoring position, saw their runner on first base challenge the Wildcat catcher Simon with a steal attempt. Simon rifled the ball to Chase Owens at second, ending both the inning and the threat.
Pocahontas County set down the leadoff hitter in the Wildcat half of the fourth, but Simon singled to left. Up next, Chase Owens sent a two balls and no strikes pitch toward short and hustled into second for a double. Davis, in as a courtesy runner, scored on the play to put the score at 12-1. In the bottom of the inning, Miller struck out the side in order.
Kisamore came to the plate in the top of the fifth with one out. He took his base upon being plunked by the first pitch. Cohen Hiett went up to bat with patience beyond his freshman status, drawing a walk on five pitches with Kisamore taking second during the at bat. With two on base, Wyatt Haynes hit for Travis Owens. He took three pitches, the second a passed ball that allowed the runners to advance. Haynes singled to center and picked up two RBIs to set the score at 14-1.
Davis next drove the first pitch to third and reached second when the infielder bobbled the play, sending Haynes home for the 15th run of the game for the visiting team. Davis then scored when Chase Owens tripled to center on a one ball pitch.
In the bottom of the frame, Smith took the mound, striking out the leadoff man. With one on and one out, Hartman snagged a line drive to prevent any further Warrior scores. Smith struck out the final batter and the Wildcats came home with a 16-1 victory.
Early in the season, Yokum has leaned heavily on his younger players and has seen them step up and perform. With freshmen hitting and fielding well early in the season, it takes some pressure off the battle-tested juniors and seniors as they work to continue their strong season, the state tournament as their long-term objective.
