Big Reds eliminated by Woodrow Wilson, 9-6 | News, Sports, Jobs

Parkersburg’s Gavin Fling dives back into first base during the Big Reds’ 9-6 South Region loser’s bracket setback to Woodrow Wilson on Thursday at City Park. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PARKERSBURG — No. 9 seed Woodrow Wilson used a five-run top of the fifth as the catalyst here Thursday night at Bennett Stump Field inside City Park to rally past No. 5 Parkersburg, 9-6, in a Class AAAA, South Region loser’s bracket contest.

The Flying Eagles of skipper Alex Williams, who improved to 8-23, extended their season for at least one more game as they return to action at 7:30 p.m. today versus No. 8 seed Parkersburg South at Hank Greenburg Field.

“It’s a rough trip, but you know what these boys were locked in and they were ready to play,” said Williams, who watched Gage Price (6.1 IP, 3 BB, 6 SO) earn the win with Drew Gallaher shutting the door in the seventh for the save. “They’ve had a chip on their shoulder all year. It’s been a rough year. I know they’ve had it in them and tonight was a good team win.

“They all stepped up and hit the ball. Great baserunning. That was probably the cleanest baserunning we’ve had all year. We’ve had some baserunning errors throughout the year, but man to come up here and Parkersburg, they are a good team and every year they are just a tough win. Everything has been a battle, but tonight it all came together and I’m really proud of the boys.”

Parkersburg, which had defeated the Flying Eagles 12-2 during the regular season, led 4-2 going to the top of the fifth, but trailed 9-4 heading to the last of the sixth.

Parkersburg’s Connor Elkins delivers to the plate during the Big Reds’ 9-6 South Region loser’s bracket setback to Woodrow Wilson on Thursday at City Park. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Price, who allowed five hits and four earned runs, allowed an infield single to Parker Woods to open the seventh before Chaz Elam followed with a double to the gap in left-center. After getting Connor Elkins to pop up to short, the Flying Eagle struck out Tyler Cameron, but a passed ball allowed both runners to score.

Price had to be lifted after that at-bat due to his pitch count, but Gallaher came in and got Noah Holland to fly out to deep center before walking Cole Sisk and fanning Jaxon Myers to end it.

“They stuck around and didn’t hit the ball real hard, but got base hits,” said PHS head man Alan Burns, whose program finished at 14-16 and will lose seniors CJ Carrodus along with Elam and Myers. “Five or six Texas Leaguer’s there and we made some good solid contact, but right to them.

“You got to give them credit, but the kids showed a lot when they came back there at the end of the game. Didn’t give up and had good senior leadership this year, good kids. We made some progress this year, but that’s not where we wanted to end up.”

The Big Reds got to Price for a run in the first when Elam walked, stole second and came home on a passed ball. However, WWHS took the lead after pushing two runs across in the second. Gallaher and Parker Williams, who was replaced by courtesy runner Alizah Pittman, singled to open the frame. After a Jax Adams sac bunt, Joe Bernard blooped one into right to plate Gallaher, and Pittman crossed on a wild pitch from the losing hurler Elkins (5 IP, 3 BB, 2 SO).

Parkersburg first baseman Noah Holland makes a catch during the Big Reds’ 9-6 South Region loser’s bracket setback to Woodrow Wilson on Thursday at City Park. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PHS responded in the third and grabbed a 3-2 lead when Gavin Fling walked and Woods was hit by a pitch. Runners were on second and third for Elam following a double-steal and he reached on an error, which plated both runs.

The hosts tallied their final run until the seventh and pushed ahead 4-2 after four when Evan Schultheis had a sacrifice fly that scored Sisk, who had reached via a base on balls.

The Flying Eagles sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth, which got started with the bottom of the order as Brennan Dameron and No. 9 hole hitter Evan Tyree had back-to-back singles.

An error by Parkersburg led to a pair of unearned runs in the frame. Will Farish delivered a run-scoring single after the error and one out later it was Gallaher who came through with an RBI two-bagger. Williams added a sac fly and Adams also had an RBI knock to center.

Woodrow Wilson added its final two runs in the sixth thanks to back-to-back singles from Tyree and Gambrell. Farish followed with another run-scoring knock while an outfield error allowed Gambrell to score.

Parkersburg’s Landon Allman tags out Woodrow Wilson’s Jackson Gambrell as he tries to steal third during the Flying Eagles’ 9-6 South Region loser’s bracket win on Thursday at City Park. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“We have nothing to lose,” added Williams, whose team struck out six straight times against the left-handed Holland in relief. “We’re the underdog in every game and Gage Price came out and pitched a gem, and he’s our everyday catcher. He’s a phenomenal pitcher too and I’m just glad the state is actually getting to see that a little bit this year.

“He’s pitched more this year than he ever has. He hit his 100th strikeout a couple weeks ago and we’re proud of him. For a catcher hitting 100 strikeouts for his career as a junior, I mean that’s solid and we’re proud of him. Then Drew Gallaher came in at the end of the game to lock it up.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Class AAAA, South Region

Loser’s Bracket Game at

Bennett Stump Field, City Park

Woodrow Wilson 9, Parkersburg 6

WWHS 020 052 0 – 9 11 1

PHS 102 100 2 – 6 5 3

WP: Gage Price 6.1IP, 5H, 6R, 4ER, 3BB, 6SO

SAVE: Drew Gallaher .2IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1SO

LP: Connor Elkins 5IP, 11H, 9R, 6ER, 3BB, 2SO

Noah Holland 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 6SO

#9 Woodrow Wilson (8-23) hitting: Jackson Gambrell 1-4, 2 R; Will Farrish 2-4 R, 2 RBIs; Gallaher 2-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI; Parker Williams 1-3 RBI; Alizah Pittman R; Jax Adams 1-3 SB, RBI; Joe Bernard 1-3 RBI; Brennan Dameron 1-3 R; Evan Tyree 2-3, 2 R

#5 Parkersburg (14-16) hitting: Gavin Fling R, 2 SB; Parker Woods 1-3, 2 R, SB; Chaz Elam 2-3, 2 R, SB, 2B, RBI; Elkins 1-4 SB; Cole Sisk 1-3 R, 2 SB; Evan Schultheis RBI

Next game: #9 Woodrow Wilson at #8 Parkersburg South, 7:30 p.m. today.