KEYSER, W.Va. (WV News) — Win and advance, lose and go home. That’s the name of the game come baseball playoff time. The Keyser Golden Tornado has now played three playoff games and won all three. As a result, for the second year in a row, the Black and Gold has claimed the sectional championship and now advance to the regional round and a best-of-three series with Oak Glen.
The first playoff victim was Berkeley Springs, which Keyser defeated 4-1. Then came back-to-back wins over Frankfort, 9-2 and 6-2.
“It’s always good to win. It’s been a good season so far. This was a good team effort. That’s the thing, when you look at our wins, it’s not always been just one or two, it’s been everybody. The last couple of games, we’ve got hits from several people,” Keyser coach Scott Rohrbaugh stated.
According to Rohrbaugh, “Tonight, I gave my third baseman, Lucas Williamson, the game ball. He doesn’t bat. He’s a freshman, and he’s played three games, but he’s probably made some of the toughest plays those three games.”
“It’s everybody. The bench, they’re going nuts from the first inning until the end of the game. All that helps. It’s been a team effort, and that’s what it’s going to take next week,” Rohrbaugh explained.
Against Frankfort on Tuesday, Keyser committed two errors compared to zero for Frankfort, but more importantly, the Tornado out-hit the Falcons eight to four to claim the victory.
Keyser drew first blood when Noah Broadwater tripled home Bubba Bean on a line drive to right field. Bean had doubled on a fly ball to center field to get on base. At the end of three innings, therefore, Keyser held a slim, 1-0 edge.
In the top of the fourth inning, however, Frankfort scored two runs to claim a slim, one run lead of their own (2-1). The two-run rally began when Blake Jacobs was hit by a pitch to reach first base. Cam Lynch then singled to advance Jacobs to second. Two batters later, Jacob Nething hit Jacobs and Lynch home before being thrown out trying to advance to third base.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, however, Keyser responded with a four-run rally to take a 6-2 lead. The lead would hold. Those four runs happened as follows:
Logan Rotruck reached base after being hit by a pitch. Patrick Liller then singled, advancing Rotruck to second. Two batter later, Josh Shoemaker singled on a line drive to right field to load the bases. An Evan Jenkins walk scored Rotruck from third to tie the game 2-2.
Liller next scored on a passed ball to give Keyser a 3-2 lead. Noah Broadwater was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Then, with one swing of the bat, Seth Healy doubled on a pop fly to right field, clearing the bases as Shoemaker, courtesy runner Matthew Junkins and Broadwater all scored to give Keyser the 6-2 lead for good.
“We preach to these guys. Get runners on, put the ball in play, and we’ll score runs. Seth’s double was huge. It was one of those bloops. Of course, in the box score it looks like a screaming line drive. But, that was big, it was almost like a golf shot that he placed. We were able to get those runs in, and it kind of blew the game wide open,” Rohrbaugh explained.
Offensively, Keyser was led by Seth Healy and Shoemaker with two hits each. Healy doubled, singled, and added three RBIs. Shoemaker singled twice and scored one run.
Additionally, Broadwater, Liller, Chase Davis and Bean each had a hit for Keyser. Broadwater tripled, scored one run, and added an RBI. Bean doubled and scored one run. Liller singled and scored one run. Davis singled.
Finally, Rotruck scored one run and Evan Jenkins tallied an RBI.
Offensively, Frankfort was led by Noah Raines with two singled. Nething doubled and tallied two RBIs. Lynch singled and scored one run. Blake Jacobs and Lynch each scored one run.
Evan Jenkins went the distance on the mound for Keyser in the win, striking out six, walking zero, giving up two runs on four hits.
“He looked really good. He had the same form he had early in the season. I think he got a little tired during the middle, because, he pitched a lot. He had a lot of innings. He’s had a couple of weeks off. It’s been since that last Frankfort game here in the regular season since he’s thrown. He was on top of his game tonight,” Rohrbaugh explained.
Lanson Orndorf went the distance in the loss for Frankfort. Orndorf struck out five, walked two, and gave up six runs on eight hits.
“Orndorf is a good pitcher. We put the ball in play several times early and we were hitting them at people. But, he kept us off balance some too. He’s a good pitcher. The last time we faced him, he beat us,” Rohrbaugh stated.
“I don’t have much to say other than we’re done, they earned it, they won the game,” Frankfort coach Matt Miller stated.
Frankfort concludes their season with an overall record of 12-13. The Falcons lose four seniors to graduation, but will welcome back a plethora of young, but now more experienced talent to the roster next year.
“We learned a lot from our young guys, and we know what we’ve got coming back. Our seniors were excellent with their leadership this year. I can’t say enough about Noah Raines and how he was our leader throughout. He never missed a weightlifting session. Never missed a flex day. Never missed anything. He was there all the time,” Miller stated.
According to Miller, “Brady Wilson worked his butt off in the weight room for all four years. The things I learned from those guys is how hard our kids have to work to get better. Our young guys played excellent most of the year. We had our struggles, because, we are young. But, we also had a lot of bright spots.”
“We’re really looking forward to the next couple of years and them getting better,” Miller explained.
Keyser (18-5) will now take on Oak Glen in a best--of-three series in the regional round. The loser sees their season end. The winner advances to the state tournament in Charleston.
Rohrbaugh was asked what is was going to take for Keyser to get to Charleston.
“It’s going to take us doing what we’re doing right now. Playing good defense, getting good efforts on the mound, and putting the ball in play.”
As for winning back-to-back sectional championships?
“It means a lot to them. With the exception of a few that graduated last year, this is the same team. It’s big for them. These guys are repeaters now. I’m just happy to have this group of guys and be able to coach them.”
Post a comment as Anonymous Commenter
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.