SHORT GAP, W.Va. — Potomac Valley scored all three of its runs in one inning, but it proved to be enough with Jaxon Hare on the mound.
Hare flummoxed the Funkstown bats to the tune of one unearned run on three hits in seven strong innings, guiding Potomac Valley Post 64 to a 3-1 victory over Funkstown Post 211 in its opener at the Berkeley Post 14 Invitational Tournament on Friday at Frankfort High School.
“Jaxon Hare threw awesome game for us today,” Potomac Valley skipper Brent Williamson said. “Defense was great. We put the ball in play when we needed to. We’ve still gotta get a little bit better with that. We’re still leaving too many runners out there stranded.
“Other than that, I think that both sides played well. It’s a good ball team we played. They’re very good. We are, too.”
Potomac Valley (8-5-1) did all of its damage at the plate during the third inning, during which it scored three runs on four hits and two walks.
Singles by Hare, Lucas Williamson and Blake Jacobs loaded the bases with nobody out, and the Skunks’ pitcher struggled with the wet mound at times due to a steady rain that began shortly after first pitch.
That prompted Frankfort head coach Matt Miller, moonlighting as the groundskeeper, to work on the mound with the bags full and a 3-0 count, but it did little to help the hurler, as run-scoring walks by James Vincell and Mason Slade sandwiched an RBI knock by Hunter Harr to the left side.
Funkstown (15-5) didn’t manage its first base hit until Heath Githens reached on a bunt single to lead off the fourth.
It didn’t manufacture a run until the seventh when a mental error on a Alex Smith grounder to shortstop, in which nobody from Post 64 covered third on a ball in the hole that ended with everybody being safe, cut Funkstown’s deficit to 3-1.
However, the next Funkstown batter missed a suicide squeeze attempt with one out and Potomac Valley tagged a runner out between third base and home, and Hare induced a pop-out to secure the victory.
Hare kept his pitch count low, getting through four frames with just 49 deliveries, and he struck out seven and walked just one in a complete-game dandy.
The right-hander did have issues with cramping in the sixth frame, though he overcame it, striking out the side in order.
“It’s nice (having Hare on the mound),” coach Williamson said. “You don’t really want to have to go through a lot of pitchers in the game if you don’t want to. … More than likely. Every time he goes out there, it’s going to be a complete game.”
Hare was helped by his defense, which made just one error. The day’s best play came when Post 64 right fielder Lukas Wolford made a running grab in the right-center gap to rob George Mantz of extra bases.
Funkstown found the game’s lone extra-base hit one inning later in the form of a triple by Smith — a scary play that ended with the relay throw hitting third baseman Lucas Williamson in the head.
Williamson stayed in the game, Hare fanned the next batter, and Potomac Valley escaped with an opening-game victory.
Vincell had two hits to lead Potomac Valley, which held an 8-3 edge in base knocks.
Kruz Jackson was dealt the loss for Funkstown, allowing three runs on six hits in two innings. He was relieved by Gavin Ramarge and Andrew Snook out of the bullpen.
Potomac Valley continued its run through the tournament with a matchup late Friday night against Charleston Post 65 — a 10-4 winner over Fort Cumberland Post 13 — and it rounds out Pool B play against Post 13 on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Potomac State’s Golden Park.
The top two teams from both pools advance to bracket play on Sunday.
The other pool, Pool A, contains Berkeley Post 14, Morgantown Post 2, Francis Scott Key Post 11 and Winchester Post 21.
“We head into postseason next week,” coach Williamson said. “What I want to see from these guys is definitely confidence level up. We all know that comes with wins.”