The scoreboard sizzles as the Cougars sweep Morgantown | News, Sports, Jobs

Jefferson High School’s Chase Brown took first place at the Morgantown Invitational, with a jump of 5-foot-10. David Pennock

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — Have you ever witnessed a 13-run inning in a once tense high school baseball game? Or how about 19 batters in one inning?

Jefferson, who had stormed Section opponent Hampshire 17-0 the previous night, had an attacking monsoon against visiting Morgantown last Saturday at fast-drying Sager Field in Shenandoah Junction.

The Mohigans had taken an early three-point lead before the once-beaten Cougars turned the tide enough to lead, 11-4, late in the fourth.

Why there were no ruts in the base paths after Jefferson ran around the sacks – scoring 13 times and failing three runners at that – was a testament to the ground crew, who had worked tirelessly in the field after heavy rain the day before.

Game times for the doubleheader were delayed by about two hours and the sky was still threatening to open up all afternoon. But not only did Jeferson threaten, the Cougar offense provided five- and six-point showcases before the 13-point deluge even overwhelmed the Mohigans. Jefferson posted a 24-4 win after fending off Morgantown’s early lead.

Jefferson High School’s TAsha Jay took fifth place, with a time of 53.65 at the Morgantown Invitational. David Pennock

Sam Wabnitz had four points, as did Sammy Roberts and Griffin Horowicz. Connor Bailey had three RBIs, as did Noah Carter, who broke the outfield fence with his three-run homer on the epic fourth-inning run streak.

Scoring points were the offensive feature in the windy and cold afternoon. Carter scored four times, Ryan Hefner, Bailey and Horowicz all scored three. The reserves acquitted themselves fairly well as seven pinch hitters in the massive inning provided five base runners themselves.

An old baseball adage tells a team to save a few runs when they crush the opposition and another game is imminent. Jefferson needed every last run he could muster to edge the Mohigans, 7-6, in the last drink, taking his overall record to 12-1.

Trailing 3-0 after a second straight wobbly start, the Cougars scored at least one run in their first four corners to move ahead, 6-3. as the bottom of the batting order used walks and a batted batter to pile up the bases.

Josh Cienfuegos scored twice and Wabnitz hit a triple before Morgantown came to life with a three-run set to draw even at 6-6.

Caleb Shelton of Jefferson High School passes the baton to Keyshawn Robinson in the first leg of the 4 x 200-meter relay at the Morgantown Invitational, in which Jefferson won, clocking 1:29.59 minutes. David Pennock

Starting pitcher Roberts went over four innings before Horowicz replaced him. In Jefferson’s final sixth, the first two batters were out before Wabnitz was hit by a pitch. He stole second place and went home with the go-ahead on Roberts’ clutch single.

In his third inning of scoreless relief, Horowicz found trouble with two outs when a double brought Aaron Jamison home. Jefferson coach John Lowery wisely chose to intentionally step on Jamison, who had already hit a homerun and a double in the last drink. Horowicz persuaded a high pop fly to Jefferson wide receiver Caleb Cottle to cut short the build-up drama for a team that had won Game 1 by 20 points.

The ground crew had done their magic before the games started. Jefferson had even shown the elders in the stands some offensive stuff they had never seen. And then Wabnitz and Roberts produced a game-winning run that gave relief pitcher Horowicz a winner in the nightcap.

Jasmine Matthews of Jefferson High School came in fourth place, with a 93-foot run in the discus competition, at the Morgantown Invitational. David Pennock