‘Jackets erupt in 4th to beat Blue Devils, 11-2

Williamstown’s Parker Schramm (7) rounds second base during a sectional tournament game against St. Marys Wednesday at Legion Field.
(Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Skipper Lexi Maxwell watched his Yellowjackets from Williamstown take control of the Class A, Region I, Section 2 tournament here Wednesday at Legion Field as the hosts scored seven times with two away in the fourth en route to handing St. Marys an 11-2 setback.

Ty Ott, who went four innings and allowed five hits, one earned run with no walks and three strikeouts, picked up the mound triumph. Maxwell Molessa, who walked none and fanned a trio, followed with a three-inning save of hitless relief to improve WHS to 26-3.

“I think we took advantage. We did a great job,” coach Maxwell said of the big inning as the top-seeded ‘Jackets will try to wrap up the sectional crown on Friday.

“We’ve done that a few times this year with two outs, just keep the bats rolling and kind of going station to station.”

St. Marys losing pitcher Josiah DeMoss allowed two runs in the first and an unearned run in the third as the visitors trailed 3-0.

Williamstown’s Ty Ott delivers.
(Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Parker Schramm, who came home on a double-steal with Carson Hill in the key fourth frame, got the first hit of the affair off DeMoss with a one-out single in the second. HIll then singled, stole second and the bases were loaded after Wyatt Siley walked. Cooper Martin coaxed a base on balls for an RBI and Jenner Burge’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.

The West Virginia University-bound Molessa reached on an error in the third and stole second. Ott followed with the first of his three run-scoring singles.

DeMoss reached on a two-base outfield error to open the fourth. No. 4 hitter and shortstop Sammy Miller then launched a two-run homer to left.

Wyatt Pinkerton and Casey Burkhammer kept things going with consecutive base hits. However, No. 7 hitter Jeremiah DeMoss flew out to center and Pinkerton was nailed trying to advance to third by WHS center fielder Wyatt Powell. Ott then struck out Parker Maston and moved to third for the final three innings.

“The Powell kid had a great throw,” admitted SMHS boss Terry Nichols, whose 17-10 club plays in an elimination game today. “It’s a numbers game.

Williamstown’s Cooper Martin attempts to bunt.
(Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“You got to hit when you get people on and you got to make routine plays. We made some screwups, routine plays, but we live to play tomorrow. Hopefully, we’ll be back on Friday.”

After Siley’s one-out walk in the fourth, Martin sacrificed and Burge was then hit by a pitch. The leadoff man Powell followed with an RBI single as he rocketed a shot off DeMoss that ended up in left field. Following a base on balls to Molessa, which loaded the bases, Ott sent a shot back at DeMoss, who attempted to make a leaping stop, but the ball went off his glove. Catcher Luke Ankrom also provided a two-run single and Hill had an RBI knock later as well.

“I think that’s huge when you’re playing a team like that, playing teams that can get back in the game with one swing of the bat, so it’s huge when our guys can just battle with two out,” admitted coach Maxwell.

Molessa struck out the side – Ashton Boron, Shane Moran and Ean Kimball – in the fifth as the Blue Devils finished with five hits.

The Little Kanawha Conference champion Yellowjackets added their final run in the fifth when Burge singled and scored on Ott’s opposite-field single to left.

St. Marys’ Sammy Miller rounds the bases after clubbing a two-run home run.
(Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“I think Ty did a great job for us starting there,” coach Maxwell added. “I mean he pitched well enough for us to have a chance. Probably not his best outing of the year, but he still battled for us and that’s what he does.

“Maxwell came in and shut the door. He’s been kind of lights out for us there toward the end of games. He’s started a couple, so he’s done well all year, too. Everybody at the plate, including Ty, did a great job.”

The ‘Jacket boss said there will not be an off day for his squad.

“We’ll have a practice and go through a couple things.We’ll probably hit a little bit. We’re probably going to work on some bunting and stuff. Just a couple little things for refreshers.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com