The Gurdon Go-Devils gave up an early home run to the Elkins Elks and never completely overcame that early lead.
The Go-Devils were first at bat and Aaron Cook got a hit but was out at first base followed by a repeat performance by Caleb Jones who was also out at first. Kyle Orsburn was up next and sent a grounder to third base where the baseman missed and Orsburn made it to first base. Ethan Jones made a base hit as well and took the third out.
The first Elkins player to take the bat sent a ball over the back fence for a home run. The next two batters each got on base but Go-Devil pitcher Ethan Jones struck out the next two players putting the Devils back up to bat with a score of 0-1.
Jared Shaver took first base on balls and advanced to second base when Drew Griffin also took a base on balls. Aaron Cook got a base hit but stumbled off the base and was out at first. Keonte McClelland sent a pop fly to outfield. Caught by an Elkins’ player, this was the Devils’ second out, followed immediately by J.L. Lockwood’s pop fly for the third out. The Devils took the field again without scoring.
Elkins also finished the third inning without scoring with E. Jones striking out at least one player in almost every inning.
In the fourth inning, E. Jones took the bat. The first bat was a foul over the backfence. The next was a strike followed by a ball before Jones found the mark and got a base hit to third.
Shaver struck out and Griffin took a base on balls, sending Jones to second base. Adam Clark also walked on balls so the bases were loaded. McClelland struck out for the second out of the inning. Lockwood took the bat with bases loaded and was out at first, ending the inning without a score change.
Elkins also remained scoreless and the top of the fifth put the Devils at bat with a score of 0-1.
Cook sent a pop fly deep into left field where an Elkins player caught it. C. Jones sent a grounder to left and was out at first. Orsburn was also out at first.
At the top of the sixth, the score remained 1-0 with E. Jones at bat. E. Jones sent two fouls to the backfence and got the first out. Shaver also sent a foul to the backfence and then struck out. Griffin struck out for the third out of the inning.
The Elkins team got players on base before E. Jones threw the strikes for the third out.
As the Devils took the bat for what was to be their last turn at bat, Clark got a base hit. When a wild pitch came in to McClelland, Clark stole second. McClelland reached out for a pitch after a couple of fouls and found a miracle hole through the Elkins players and made it to first while Clark made third.
Lockwood sent the ball between first and second. McClelland was out at second but Clark came home for the Devils’ first run of the day.
Cook took the bat for the Devils with a tied score. The first pitch was inside and it wasn’t until the third that he made contact. The base hit got Lockwood out at second for the Devil’s second out of the inning. C. Jones made a similar play and Cook was out at second for the third out.
When the Elkins Elks took the bat at the bottom of the seventh inning, the score was tied at 1-1.
It seemed the E. Jones, who had pitched the entire game, was tiring and the Elkins’ players were able for the first time to regularly connect with the ball. The first batter got to first base and then stole second and third. The run that came in from that batter was enough to eliminate the Go-Devils from the state tournament.
