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Elkins headed to District finals

HUTTONSVILLE – Matthew Gainer and Jessie Williams combined on a four-inning no-hitter as the Elkins 11-12-year-old All-Stars claimed a 17-0 win over Gilmer County Monday in District 8 North tournament action.

Elkins. along with Tygarts Valley, advances to the District 8 finals, which begin Saturday in Huttonsville. The District 8 South tournament also will have two teams in the field.

Tygarts Valley defeated Pocahontas County, 18-1, in Monday’s first game.

Gainer and Williams figured in the first run of the evening as well in Elkins’ victory. Read Schumacher was caught trying to stretch out a double for the first out.

Gainer then singled and later scored on a RBI single by Williams.

Gainer came to the mound and promptly struck out Gilmer in order.

Elkins bats started to come alive in the top half of the second inning, scoring seven runs on five hits. Jeremy Coger tarted off with a walk, followed by a single by Elliott White.

After another walk given up to Cole Crumm, Schumacher brought Coger and White in with a double. Crumm scored next on a passed ball. Other hits in the stanza included an RBI double by Beau Bright, an RBI single by Williams and a two-run triple by Coger in his second plate appearance of the inning.

The defensive highlight for Gilmer County in the second inning was a nice shoestring catch by shortstop Dalton Rose.

Michael McCune was the first at the plate for Gilmer in the bottom half of the second and became the fourth straight strikeout victim of Gainer. The next two batters both flied out to second base to end the inning.

The first three batters in the third for Elkins all reached base. Crumm drew a walk, Grant Simmons then belted an RBI double to bring Crumm in, and Schumacher hit an RBI single to plate Simmons. After a pitching change for Gilmer, two of the next three batters were put out. Sandwiched between the out was an RBI triple by Bright.

A particularly bad stretch for Gilmer ensued as three of the next four batters for Elkins were hit-by-pitch, and the fourth was a walk. After another pitching change, Simmons hit his second double of the inning, this one with accounted for two RBIs. Schumacher hit his second single of the inning before Gainer struck out to end the onslaught. All told, Elkins scored 10 runs on five hits, two walks and three hit batsmen in the third inning.

Gainer started the bottom of the third inning by getting an out at first for the first out and striking out the second batter. Jacob Gragg then battled at the plate until he was issued a walk by Gainer, breaking up a perfect game. That excitement didn’t last long, however, as Gragg was caught stealing second base to register the third out.

Elkins got singles by Williams and Jon Phillips in the visitors’ half of the fourth but did not score.

Williams came in to relieve Gainer and issued a walk to Isaak Poole, just the second baserunner allowed by Elkins. Poole then took second base and then third base on a series of passed balls. No damage was done, however, as Williams struck out the other three batters he faced.

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