The magical postseason runs for Mullens and Beckley at the 2024 Little League 8-10 All-Star Baseball Tournament came to an end Monday night in the elimination round at Sophia Little League Affinity Park.
Beckley’s journey came to an abrupt end at the hands of Bridgeport, which blanked Beckley 14-0 in four innings.
Bridgeport opened with seven runs in the first inning which was more than enough for starting pitcher Jacob Gissy. The Bridgeport pitcher did not yield a hit in three-and-two-thirds innings with Luka Dearing coming on to record the final out.
Owen Goodwin had two RBI to pace Bridgeport.
Mullens on the other hand lost a 9-8 heart-breaker to Charleston Central in the evening contest.
Trailing 2-1 through three innings, Mullens rallied to score four runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead. Unfortunately for the Wyoming County boys, they could not maintain the advantage.
Charleston matched the Mullens output in the bottom of the frame and backed it up with three more in the home half of the fifth for a 9-5 lead.
Mullens refused to go quietly, however, making a strong run in the top of the sixth.
Brady Hendricks doubled to open the inning and scored on a single from Logan Justus. A bases loaded walk to Tayson Perry and an RBI grounder from Gavin McKinney cut the lead to one.
Charleston escaped with the win by snagging a liner for the second out and nailing a runner at the plate attempting to steal home.
Cam McBride had two hits and two RBI, while Mason Blankenship had a double.
Jacob Vencill, Caleb Plumley and Cole Foster had two hits each for Charleston. Will Chipps had two RBI.
Bridgeport and Charleston Central will meet Tuesday in another elimination game.
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Martinsburg – The Sophia Junior League All-Stars dropped a 7-2 contest to St. Albans to end their run in the Eastern Panhandle.
St. Albans also knocked off Sophia 7-0 when the teams met to open the state tournament.
Sophia fell behind 7-0 through five innings and could not rally for the win.
Landon Frazier collected a single, along with a double and drove in both runs for Sophia.
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Webster Springs – The Sophia Senior All-Stars advanced to the championship series with a win over Hedgesville before falling for the second time in the tournament to Logan.
A five-run first inning sparked Sophia after falling behind 2-0 in the top half of the stanza.
Sophia added four runs in the fourth inning and iced the game with three more runs in the sixth leading to a 12-4 win.
Hunter Austin led the way with two hits and three RBI. Carter Hajash and Logan Ellis drove in two runs each, while Drake Cook had a double and one RBI.
Chase Shea picked up the win going six-and-a-third innings allowing just three earned runs.
In the nightcap, Sophia took a 1-0 lead after three innings before Logan answered with five runs in the fourth inning en route to a 7-2 win.
Hunter Milam had three hits, including a double, while Andrew Coalson added a double and a single. Colyn Smith had two RBI for Sophia.
