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Conference Champs

The Inter-Mountain photos by Brad Johnson Elkins Post 29 pitcher Matthew Gainer attempts to pick off Buckhannon Post 7's Mitchell Williams by throwing to first baseman Sam Ross Saturday.

ELKINS — Rece Wamsley drove in 4 runs Saturday to help Elkins Post 29 defeat Buckhannon Post 7, 12-2, and claim the 11th straight American Legion Area 5 Conference Championship for Elkins.

The victory also propelled Elkins Post 29 to it’s 15th straight state tournament appearance. The team will now take on Bridgeport Post 68 on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Bridgeport Recreational Complex.

“We did our job,” Post 29 manager Chris George said. “Going into it obviously the goal was to win the Area, but going into it we knew we had to get on a roll going into the post season — and we are. We’re 9-1 in our last 10 games, which is important going into the state tournament. We 10-runned everyone in the area, I was surprised, but we did. We’re focused. When we get focused we can beat a lot of people. Our pitching was good, our hitting was very good, our defense was good. The kids really stepped up at the right time. I hope they can continue to do that this week.”

Post 29 blew the game wide open in the fifth inning, after piling on 8 runs to make the score 10-0. Buckhannon battled back with solo runs in the sixth and seventh stanzas, but couldn’t hold Elkins from scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim the 10-run mercy rule victory.

Matthew Gainer (5-1) earned the victory on the mound. He went 6 innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 5 and walking 2.

Elkins Post 29's Matthew Gainer sends a pitch to the plate Saturday during Elkins' championship game matchup with Buckhannon Post 7.

Caleb Riggleman set the pace for the Post 29 offense. He finished the day 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 RBIs and 2 runs. Luke Petrice also doubled and had 2 hits, 2 runs and 1 RBI. Rece Wamsley collected 4 RBIs in the victory, while Cole Harlan went 2 for 4 with a 2 RBIs and 1 run.

Logan Bailey was charged with the loss for Buckhannon. He went 4 innings, giving up 6 runs on 4 hits. Logan Whitehair had the only RBI for Post 7.

Elkins (26-15) is set to face Bridgeport Post 68 in the first round of the state tournament on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex. Prior to that game, Morgantown Post 2 (24-11-1) will take on South Charleston Post 94 (26-9) at noon, and Wheeling Post 1 (22-12) will play Romney Post 91 (22-10) at 3:30. The tournament is double elimination and all games will be played in Bridgeport.

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