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MLBDL West Virginia Black Bears

Early Offensive Firepower Ensures West Virginia's Win Over Mahoning Valley

July 25, 2023 - Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


GRANVILLE, W.Va. - The West Virginia Black Bears took the first game of the series from the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in an 11-3 win on Tuesday evening at Monongalia County Ballpark. A pair of five-run innings from West Virginia put the game away early and allowed them to cruise to a win. Anthony Hansen led the offense with five RBI, three hits and a home run in the second inning.

The Black Bears offense got hot early with their first five-run inning in the bottom of the second. Bobby Lada and Tyler Dellerman reached base in time for an RBI double from Manny Voorhees to drive in Lada. Anthony Hansen extended West Virginia's lead with a long ball into the visitors' bullpen for a three-run home run. The offense continued to lay it on the Scrappers after the home run. Noah Lucier singled, then stole second base, leading to an RBI single by Ben McClain. Heading into the third, the Black Bears led 5-0.

The Scrappers got one back in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly that scored D'Aires Davis.

But West Virginia kept its foot on the gas into the next inning. The Bears began the third with three consecutive hits from Tyler Dellerman, Vorhees and Hansen, who drove in Dellerman for his fourth RBI of the night. Lucier joined in the fun and added two more runs for the Bears on a double. After a single by McClain, the Scrappers had their backs to the wall.

Mahoning Valley's Jack Zalasky replaced Elijah Pleasants with just one out on the board, but the new arm did not phase West Virginia.

After Cam Ridley drew a walk to load the bases, Patrick Lee was hit by a pitch to drive in Lucier. Lada brought home McClain on a sacrifice fly before Lee was thrown out at second to end the inning. After putting up another five-spot in the third, the Bears grabbed a commanding 10-1 lead.

The Scrappers struggled to get a hit, but managed to post an RBI double in the top of the fourth to plate one run. A sacrifice fly fielded by McClain allowed Braylin Marine to score to cut the Bears' lead to seven.

With a 10-3 lead, reliever AJ Stinson kept the Scrappers from showing signs of life at the plate. Though West Virginia's offense plateaued after their two massive innings, Stinson pitched effectively with the insurance and held the Scrappers hitless and scoreless through the seventh and eighth innings.

The Bears added one more run in the bottom of the eighth. Hansen plated Lada on a double to put them ahead 11-3.

Right-handed pitcher Carson Lambert entered in the ninth and recorded the final three outs with two strikeouts.

West Virginia was able to pull the game quickly out of reach of Mahoning Valley in Tuesday's contest. Though the entire lineup contributed to the 14 hit night, Anthony Hansen led the way with three hits, two runs and five RBI. Hansen's three-run homer in the second gave the Bears the spark they needed to charge into another win.

Not to be outdone by the offense, West Virginia's pitchers held Mahoning Valley's bats to three runs on eight hits. Ahead by ten early in the contest, Bears' starter Will Sandy pitched with little pressure. He finished his six innings with just three earned runs, one walk and six strikeouts. AJ Stinson made his Black Bears debut by shutting down the Scrappers' lineup in his two-inning appearance. From William Carey University, Stinson finished with no hits, no runs and two strikeouts.

The Black Bears meet the Scrappers again on Wednesday evening at Monongalia County Ballpark. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

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