ONA ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” Three Es will get you one L.
Cabell Midland (5-5) committed three errors that led to Hurricane runs on Tuesday in a 4-3 loss to the Redskins (8-2) in high school baseball at the Castle.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œErrors killed us,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Knights coach Tracy Brumfield said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIt cost us big-time. Three unearned runs in a 3-1 game, you canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t do that against a quality team. TheyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re No. 2 or 3 in the state. You canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t make mistakes like that.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Giving away runs was particularly costly against Hurricane pitcher Weston Smith. The West Virginia University signee allowed three hits in six innings, struck out eight and walked five.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI felt good coming out there,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Smith said of taking a while to get warmed up on the chilly afternoon. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been on the road, and this was another one on the road. It definitely was an adjustment. I didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t have a few of my pitches today, and that made it tougher.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
SmithÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s start wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t as auspicious as his finish. In the bottom of the first, he hit Cabell Midland leadoff man Landon Nida, who stole second, moved to third on a bunt by Braylon Wing and scored on Eli McGinnisÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ fly ball to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
Cabell Midland pitcher Owen Maynard stymied Hurricane until the fourth inning, when Smith walked and moved to second on an error. Another error allowed Aiden Ocheltree to reach first base. One out later, Brady Rigney smacked a single to right to score both runners.
The Redskins made it 3-1 in the fifth when Bryson Shirkey walked, went to second on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on a Tyler Baxter double.
In the sixth, Braylon HutchisonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s single/error combination allowed Trey Cox to score for a 4-1 advantage.
The Knights made it close, scoring twice with two outs in the sixth. Hunter Workman came home on a passed ball before Ethan Eaves singled in Owen Brunty.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWestonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a winner,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Redskins coach Brian Sutphin said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHe didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t have his ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜AÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ stuff and just battled. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the sign of all good pitchers. I thought he settled down and was himself.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Sutphin praised HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s defense, which made no errors.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe made some plays behind (Smith),ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Sutphin said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe kept battling. I thought we made some good plays and got off the field. We knew they werenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t going to go away.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Hutchison went 2 for 3 for Hurricane.
Nida had two of Cabell MidlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s three hits but was picked off first base after leading off the bottom of the seventh with a single off reliever Wyatt Gautier, who earned a save. Ethan Hatcher drew three walks in as many trips to the plate.
The Knights return to action at 6 p.m. Wednesday at home against Parkersburg South. Hurricane plays again at 7 p.m. Thursday at George Washington.
HURRICANE 000 211 0 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” 4 7 0
CABELL MIDLAND 100 002 0 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” 3 3 3
Smith, Gautier (7) and Dempsey; Maynard, Perry (5), Hatcher (7) and McGinnis.
Hitting: (H) Hutchison 2-3, Baxter 2B, Rigney 2 RBIs; (CM) Nida 2-3 2B.
