ACCIDENT — No. 4 East Hardy’s bats were active early and often on Monday, combining for 16 hits in a 16-3 five-inning victory over Northern.
“We came ready to play today, we hit the ball well,” East Hardy head coach Tyler Mongold said. “That’s been the best five or six games we’ve been on the ball. The last 14 games, we’re averaging around 14 hits. Anytime you can do that, you’re gonna win some ball games.”
The Cougars (11-5) were led by Evan Hamilton who finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
He went 3 for 3 with five RBIs and two walks.
“He’s on the ball, doesn’t matter who we play, he’s been line driving it,” Mongold said. “Even the home run was a line drive.”
East Hardy scored two runs in the first inning on a fielding error and a hit batter with the bases loaded.
The Huskies (5-7) answered with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning.
After a fielding error at second base, Cole Folk and Devin McKenzie sent ground balls past third base and into left for RBI singles to tie the game.
On McKenzie’s hit, Jacob Chambers scored from second, but the other runner going to third was tagged out to end the inning.
Initially, the run didn’t count, but the umpires reversed the call.
“The home plate umpire thought the tag was originally applied, but it wasn’t,” Mongold said describing the play. “He slid and came off the bag, then the tag was applied. During that time frame, the runner crossed the plate.”
In the top of the second, the Cougars loaded the bases off a walk and base hits from Brandon Jones and Mason Hamilton.
A fielder’s choice gave East Hardy a 3-2 lead, then a two-run single in the gap to left from Levi Price pushed it to 5-2.
Shayne Sisler added a run on a base hit to left on a 3-0 count.
After two innings, Northern went to the bullpen. The new reliever walked the first batter, then Evan Hamilton sent a fly ball deep to left center.
It landed on the first floor roof of the school behind left center for a two-run home run.
“We continue to be a punching bag for everybody,” Northern head coach Phil Carr said. “We played a good team, East Hardy’s won a lot of ball games recently. They just kinda hit everything we threw at them today.”
East Hardy loaded the bases again off a Garrett Van Meter single and two more walks, but a fielder’s choice and fly out kept the Cougars lead 8-2.
Northern’s pitchers struggled with walks, combining for eight in the first three innings. The Huskies pitching staff finished with 16 combined hits, 15 earned runs and only two strikeouts.
“It’s the reason they hit it like they did, we were working behind in the count,” Carr said. “They were able to sit on pitches and they didn’t miss it.”
In the top of the fourth, the Huskies went to the bullpen again after a Nate Smith base hit and another walk led off the inning.
On the first pitch after the pitching change, Evan Hamilton doubled on a fly ball to left, scoring two more runs to push the lead to 10-2.
“Early in the season, we had trouble with runners in scoring position,” Mongold said. “But the last week or so, we’ve been really having those key hits at the right times.”
Mason Hamilton doubled the next at-bat, then Van Meter hit a line drive to center for a two-RBI knock.
Trailing 12-2 with one out in the bottom of the fourth, McKenzie hit a fly ball to left center for a solo home run.
McKenzie led Northern with two hits and two RBIs.
“I think that’s probably the first home run he’s ever hit in his life,” Carr said.
The Cougars iced the game in the top of the fifth.
With two on, Jones hit a no doubt three-run shot to left center for his first high school home run.
“He was a little bit surprised with it,” Mongold said. “He was laughing as he was going around the bases. But he came around well the last week or so.”
On the next pitch, Evan Hamilton tripled deep into right and scored on the throw.
Sisler started for East Hardy and threw four innings, only allowing one earned run.
He allowed four hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
“He’s consistently in the strike zone, anytime you’re consistently in the strike zone, you’re gonna have a good game,” Mongold said. “Any time you limit walks, it’s a good sign for a pitcher.”
Evan and Mason Hamilton each had three hits, Van Meter, Smith and Jones each had two.
Eight Cougars had at least one hit.
Both teams play on Tuesday. East Hardy visits Tucker County while Northern is at Mountain Ridge.
The Huskies have lost four in a row and seven of its last nine.
“We need to compete, I thought today we didn’t compete,” Carr said. “Last games, we’ve lost three one-run games. I know those are hard things to overcome, but you gotta have a short memory and keep playing. I thought we didn’t compete as well tonight after we got down about eight runs. I didn’t see the competitiveness in the guys that I need to see, and that’s disappointing.”