March 26, 2011
By Robert Stocks

WINCHESTER- Getting off to a fast start was something that had been lacking through the James Wood High School baseball team's first three games. But the Colonels changed that trend against Hedgesville (W.Va.) Friday night.

Wood scored 10 runs through the first three innings, and senior pitcher Matt Copley struck out six to lead the Colonels to a 10-6 non-district victory at R. Charles Hott Field.

"We came out strong, and we've not always done that," James Wood coach Jared Mounts said. "I was impressed with how we came out and opened up, so that was a positive. On a negative, we didn't really finish the game like we should. When you've got a team down, you've got to put them away, but credit to Hedgesville for battling back and making it a closer game."

James Wood (2-2) scored three runs in the first inning and then added six more in the second to take a commanding 9-0 lead.

Garret Cunningham, Scott Johnson and Frank Minor each drove in runs in the first.

In the second, Copley drove in two runs with a double, and Cunningham followed with a triple to plate two more.

Daniel Garber also had an RBI single in the third, and James Wood tacked on another run when Kyle Heavner scored on a sacrifice fly by Cunningham.

Following Wednesday's 5-1 loss to Jefferson (W.Va.), the Colonels faced live pitching in the batting cage during Thursday's practice. Copley said that played a role in the early offense Friday.

"I think that really helped us tonight," Copley said. "We were ready to come out and hit the ball. We knew we had to jump out to an early lead and sustain one. I think we pretty much came out and whacked the ball.
"But we still should have done a better job of closing out games. They should have never had six runs."

Copley (1-1) cruised through the first three innings, and it looked like the Colonels might end the game by the 10-run rule, but Cody Butts kept the Eagles alive with an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth.

From there, Hedgesville (3-1) rallied with five more runs in the fifth.

Copley allowed three runs (just one earned) on four hits through 4 innings.

"I think I did all right, but I know I can do better," Copley said. "I think I did a good job of locating my pitches early on. I just got too lazy in the fourth and fifth innings, and they started taking advantage of it and teeing off on me. My arm got lazy, and I just started thinking I could blow it by them. They're a great hitting team, and they started taking advantage of it."

Sophomore lefty Addison Barber came in and struck out three in 2 innings. Barber gave up a double to center to start the seventh - six of Hedgesville's seven hits were doubles - but he retired the next three batters to end it.

Johnson said the team's strong start was a huge lift, but the senior acknowledged that the Colonels might have gotten a little complacent.

"We came out really aggressive and everybody was just hitting the ball," Johnson said. "We were just playing together as a team. We kind of lost sight of things in that fifth inning, but we pulled through. Luckily our pitchers kept throwing strikes, and we held it together."

When the Colonels have the lead, Copley said the team needs to work on closing out games.

"The last couple years we've been getting content with a two- or three-run lead, and we had a 10-run lead there," he said. "We just got too content, and you can see a good team like Hedgesville can come back quick. We've got to do a better job of sustaining our leads and keeping it."

Butts (0-1) took the loss for Hedgesville.

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