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Elkins, Huntington take wins

ELKINS – Elkins and Huntington Southeastern captured wins during the opening day of the Babe Ruth 15-year-old state tournament Thursday night at Robin Harvey Memorial Field.

Elkins jumped out to an early lead to coast past Buffalo, 14-4 in six innings, in Thursday’s second game.

Rece Wamsley was hit-by-a pitch with the bases loaded to plate the first run for Elkins, while Shane Bodkin cracked a two-run single to make it 3-0.

Elkins tacked on two runs in each of the second and third innings, followed by another three-run surge in the fourth to open up a 10-0 lead.

David Gainer, meanwhile, cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit and fanning eight in earning the victory.

Buffalo got on the board in the fifth inning with four runs. Jake Cumm had a homer during the frame.

Elkins finished the scoring by plating two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings to end the game early due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Scott Lewis took the loss for Buffalo.

Caleb Riggleman, Blake Loftis, Kyle Riggleman, Daniel Hamrick and Cory Gillespie each had two hits for Elkins, which had 14 safeties on the night with just one error.

“I was extremely pleased with our effort tonight,” Elkins manager Jack Crumm said. “We have a great group of kids that played well as a team.”

In Thursday’s opening game, Huntington SE plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally for a 7-6 victory over Beckley.

Beckley had pushed three runs across in the top of the eighth to break a 3-3 deadlock.

Huntington SE then used singles from Jake Lingenfelter and Nick Blevins, along with two hit-bats-man, a walk and error en route to scoring its four runs to earn the win.

Lingenfelter and Blevins each had two hits for the winners.

Blevins also earned the win in relief of Trevor Cremeans.

Will Mullens, Meeko Harris and Ellis Lilly each had two safeties for Beckley.

Dylan Basham took the loss.

Buffalo and Beckley will meet in an elimination game at 3 p.m. today, followed by Elkins vs. Huntington SE in a winner’s bracket contest at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Another elimination game will follow at 8 p.m. and the championship game is set to take place at 1 p.m. Saturday.

A second championship game will be held if needed on Saturday before the start of the Babe Ruth 13-year-old state tournament.

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