Bulldogs fall to Cougars in regional finals

East Hardy takes first contest of best-of-three series, 5-2

MILL CREEK -- Third-seed East Hardy used a strong outing on the mound from Jordan Teets to claim a 5-2 win over top-seed Tygarts Valley Monday night in the first game of the best-of-three Class A, Region II series.

The teams are slated to meet again today at Baker with the Bulldogs needing a win to avoid elimination.

Tygarts Valley trailed 3-0 but answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth when Austin Teter led off with a single and Jacob Wamsley doubled to left.

One out later, Ian Harris lined out to center to plate courtesy-runner Preston Smith and Wamsley scored on an error on the play.

The Cougars (11-15) picked up two runs in the seventh, with Shayne Sissler collecting an RBI single in the frame.

Reliever Mason Hamilton then retired the side in order in the home-half of the frame to end the game.

Sissler and Mason Wilkins drew bases-loaded walks to give East Hardy a 2-0 lead in the first.

Hamilton's two-out homer to center made it 3-0 in the fourth.

Teets went six innings, giving up two runs on just three hits, striking out four and walking three.

Jaxon Drennen took the loss, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, fanning 11 and walking five.

Drennen tallied the other hit for Tygarts Valley, which is now 18-8.

Hamilton and Garrett Van Meter had two hits apiece for the Cougars.