The one week break in postseason play is over. Graduation activities are over. What Bridgeport High School Coach Robert Shields and his players are hoping that after this evening, the prep baseball season isn’t over.

 

At 6:30 p.m., Bridgeport will visit Grafton to face off with the Bearcats in the Class AA, Region II semifinal. The winner will host the winner of the Berkeley Springs at Frankfort game on Thursday at the same time.

 

While many may believe the Indians are the prohibitive favorite at 26-6 overall and being the two-time defending state champion, Shields said his team isn’t taking anything for granted. Part of that comes from a veteran team that understands the postseason mindset, he said. Another reason is that one of the six losses handed to the Indians this year was in the season-opening contest against Grafton at the BHS field.

 

“The key against them and for us to find a way to win is to put the ball in play and make things happen by getting runners on base,” said Shields. “We’re going to need to some offense because they’ve got players in the lineup that can do some damage,” said Shields. “They scored eight runs against us in that first game and Morgantown was the only team all season to score more.”

 

In order to advance against Grafton, Shields believes his team will have to get the best of either Seth Wright or Zach Musgrove. According to Shields, both players were involved in the season-opening setback Grafton handed the Tribe.

 

Shields isn’t sure who will be starting for the Tribe. He did say, however, it will be one of the foursome of Hunter Haddix, Gordon Swiger, Brine Takahashi or Tanner Furbee.

 

“In the last two games when we got to resume play during the week our pitching was stellar (a 4-1 win Friday against Pendleton County and a 2-0 win against Buckhannon-Upshur),” said Shields. “They shortened our run production and we can’t have that.

 

“When (tonight’s) game comes there’s no need for speeches to get them motivated because they know what’s on the line; they’re a senior-laden team,” Shields continued. “I’m just hoping that with all the distractions from graduation over that we’ll add some solid hitting to the solid pitching and defense we saw last week.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Coach Robert Shields with the team huddle around him in action last week, while senior pitcher Hunter Haddix is one of several Indians that Shields said could start tonight.