GLENVILLE, W.Va. — Three Gilmer County pitchers combined to strike out 15 batters while yielding just two hits in a 7-1 win over Nicholas County. The game was a matchup of teams ranked in the initial MetroNews baseball poll.
The No. 7 Titans (10-2) collected their sixth consecutive victory behind impressive pitching performances from Caleb Hall, Braylen Mencer and Kolten Holbert. Hall and Mencer each tossed three innings before Holbert secured the final three outs.
“Tonight, our biggest goal was getting arms ready. We had taken almost a week off. We had a sophomore and a freshman pitching. We had one junior on the mound throwing. I thought they did a good job pounding the zone and they accomplished what we set out to do,” said Gilmer County head coach Ben Hall.
“Honestly, we have about seven guys that can pound the zone. You saw tonight, that was our No. 2 who started the game for about 30 pitches. We jumped down and we saw four and five still pounding the zone.”
Gilmer sent eight batters to the plate in a three-run first inning. Colton Hall, Bryant Yoak and Christopher Junkins each had run-scoring hits in the opening frame.
“This Nicholas County team is super-tough. So to come out and get that kind of cushion, it lets the pitchers relax and do what they are supposed to do. I was super-proud of our offense.”
Yoak, a WVU signee, went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI.
Grayson Kesterson and Caleb Jarvis each had base hits for No. 9 Nicholas County (5-2). NCHS senior Cole Brown collected his 200th career strikeout in the first inning.
