CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Grafton and Herbert Hoover have
advanced to the Class Double-A baseball championship game for the
first time.
Grafton beat Point Pleasant 3-to-2 and Herbert Hoover eliminated
Independence 9-to-3 in the semifinals today at Appalachian Power
Park in Charleston. Grafton and Herbert Hoover will meet at 11 a-m
Saturday.
Herbert Hoover's James White scattered six hits in six innings
to run his record this season to nine-and-two. He also drove in a
run with a sacrifice fly during a four-run seventh inning. Nathan
Cooper drove in two runs for the Huskies.
Herbert Hoover and Independent each made the tournament for the
first time since losing in the 2003 semifinals.
In the earlier game, Grafton's Zack Stemple and Jordan Mayle
each drove in a run. Meanwhile, Kenny Vincent scattered seven hits
for the Bearcats. He struck out six and walked one in improving to
nine-and-one on the season.
Stemple scored on Mayle's single in the first and Point Pleasant
tied it in the fourth on an outfield error. Grafton scored single
runs in the fifth and sixth and Point Pleasant got one back in its
half of the sixth but it wasn't enough.
Grafton is in the tournament for the first time since 1984.
Point Pleasant was making its first trip since 1972.