Logan's four-run first inning too much for Scott to overcome

Logan's McCormick Ilderton, Dawson Maynard and Ryan Roberts celebrate at home plate after Ilderton and Maynard scored on Garrett Williamson's first inning double Tuesday night at Roger E, Gertz Field (File photo courtesy of Boothe Davis/Captured by the Moment Photography).

Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports

L0GAN Second-seeded Logan left no doubt as the Wildcats plated four runs in the first and chased Scott starting pitcher Griffin Miller from the game after five innings en route to a 9-1 win over the third-seeded Skyhawks in the opening round of the Class AA Region 4 Section 2 tournament on Tuesday night at Roger E. Gertz Field.

Logan, who was facing Miller for the first time since the right-hander struck out 14 and allowed just three hits in a 1-0 shutout of the Wildcats on March 29 at Roger E. Gertz Field, made certain that history wouldn’t repeat itself this time around as they had eight hits, struck out just three times, walked four time and was hit four other times to advance to Thursday’s winner’s bracket.

The Wildcats (19-8), ranked second in the West Virginia MetroNews Class AA Power Poll, will travel to top-seeded and top-ranked Chapmanville (24-4) for a 6 p.m. contest at Ted Ellis Field.

The Wildcats sent seven batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring four runs on two hits and a sacrifice fly and never looked back as they won their eighth consecutive game.

Garrett Williamson started the scoring with a two-run double, Aiden Slack had a run scoring triple and Ivan Miller a sacrifice fly to cap the four-run opening inning.

Sam Cook got Scott on the board when he scored on a double play in the third inning, but the Wildcats added four additional runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-1 lead.

Dawson Maynard, who was held hitless but was hit three times, scored on a passed ball to start the scoring. Slack and Miller added run scoring singles and Miller scored on a wild pitch.

Five different Skyhawks recorded one hit as Cook, Jason Ferrell, Miller, Carter McClung and Hunter Null all had singles.

Miller took the loss after allowing eight runs on five hits, four walks, four hit batters and three strikeouts in five innings pitched. Austin Light allowed one run on one hit in one inning of relief.

Scott (14-7) defeated Mingo Central, 7-1, on Wednesday, and will host fourth-seeded Wayne (16-14) in an elimination game on Thursday.

Maynard earned the win after giving up one run on five hits and seven strikeouts in five innings for Logan. Williamson struck out three and walked two in one inning of relief and Slack struck out three and walked one in his lone inning.

Slack had two hits, a triple and two RBIs while Williamson had two hits, a double and two RBIS and Miller had one hit and two RBIs for the Wildcats. Ryan Roberts had a single.