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MLBDL West Virginia Black Bears

West Virginia Defeats Trenton and Moves into First Place in the MLB Draft League

July 12, 2022 - Major League Baseball Draft League (MLBDL)
West Virginia Black Bears News Release


GRANVILLE, W.Va. - The West Virginia Black Bears defeated the Trenton Thunder by a score of 8-3 after a dramatic fourth inning at Monongalia County Ballpark on Tuesday evening. On a gloomy night at The Mon, the Bears faced the Thunder in a seven-inning contest that came down to one rocky inning for Trenton and solid defensive play by West Virginia.

Despite the victory, starter Rhian Mann found trouble early as the Thunder bats got hot in the first inning. With two outs, Ryan McCarthy and 1B Andrew Cossetti both singled to put a runner in scoring position. An RBI double from CF Caleb McNeely put Trenton on the board first to give them a 1-0 lead.

Th Black Bears would immediately return the favor in the bottom of the inning as SS Blaze Brothers got on base with a walk. Brothers made it to third after he stole second and a passed ball behind the catcher allowed him time to make quick work of the 90 feet between bases. With Brothers in scoring position, 1B Ryan Hernandez produced a base-on-balls to put runners on the corners before DH Hunter May drove a double into left field that scored Brothers and tied the game at one run.

Mann finished his outing after the second inning as he retired the side. In his first start for the Bears, Mann recorded three hits and one earned run in his two-inning appearance.

Trenton upped the ante in the top of the third with a double into center field from LF Ryan McCarthy that scored SS EJ Esposito and gave the Thunder a 2-1 lead.

But West Virginia was not done. In a dramatic fourth inning, LF Kyle Hess led off for the Bears and reached first base on a throwing error by Trenton catcher Jeff Manto. A single from 3B Ben Greer advanced Hess to third before a wild pitch from reliever Malcolm Gilchrist brought him home to tie the game. Following Greer's at-bat, catcher Mauricio Millan reached first on a walk before stealing second base. An error on the pick-off attempt by Manto allowed Greer to score to give the Bears their first lead of the game.

With no outs on the board, 2B Savier Pinales picked up his first hit of the night with a base-hit through the middle infield that plated Millan and put the Bears up 4-2. A pitching change brought in Trenton reliever Tyler Jeans as the Thunder attempted to hold the Black Bears offense.

Following a fielding error by Cossetti, Brothers made it to first to load the bases. A single from Hernandez scored Pinales and kept the bases juiced. Still in the fourth with only one out, Trenton could not catch a break as another passed ball and a wild pitch resulted in two more runs. Finally, the Thunder managed to strike out RF Marek Chlup and Hess, but not before the Black Bears increased their lead to 7-2.

West Virginia handed the ball over to Davidson alum RHP Will Schomberg to begin the fifth inning. Schomberg pitched two quality innings, allowing just one hit with help from concrete defense from the infield. Greer would showcase the strength of his arm on multiple occasions as he made several diving catches and throws across the mound.

In the Black Bears last attempt to add some insurance to their lead, a single from Hernandez scored Brothers from second in the bottom of the sixth inning for Brothers final run of the game. In addition to being walked twice, Hernandez (.329 BA) went two-for-two with two RBI while Brothers finished his night with three runs and two stolen bases.

Despite giving up two hits in the top of the seventh inning, WVU's Academic All Big-12 Second Team pitcher Zach Ottinger closed out the game while allowing one run. That was all Trenton could muster as the Bears ended the game on an impressive double-play by Pinales who made an over-the-shoulder catch before firing it to Hernandez at first to seal West Virginia's 8-3 win.

With the win and help from the Frederick Keys 7-3 victory over the Williamsport Crosscutters, West Virginia is now in sole possession of first place in the MLB Draft League with a one-game lead. The Black Bears look to extend their lead and go for the sweep over the Thunder at The Mon on Wednesday evening. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

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