Bridgeport Defeats Morgantown, 2-1, in Game 1 of Class AAA Region I Tournament
By Chris Johnson on May 20, 2024
Bridgeport baseball coach Robert Shields wasn’t particularly pleased with his team’s effort taking infield before the start of Monday’s Class AAA Region I opener against Morgantown.
Whatever it was that he didn’t like, the Indians must of got it out of their system as they turned three double plays to back another strong start from Jacob Stavrakis and another strong finish by Justin Duvall that put Bridgeport in the drivers seat of the best of three series with a 2-1 victory against the Mohigans.
With the win, Bridgeport improved to 32-4. Morgantown is now 27-8.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be at Dale Miller Field in Morgantown Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Stavrakis picked up the win, improving to 8-0, Duvall earned his sixth save of the year. Stavrakis struck out five and surrendered six hits in five innings. The one earned charged to him was unearned. Duvall didn't allow a hit and struck out two in two innings.
“Jacob threw well,” Shields said. “It was a hot day and I think that kind of wore on him a bit. Justin did a great job coming in and closing the door.
“It doesn’t matter if it was 2-1 or 10-1, we got this first one and that is big for us.”
The Indians scored both of their runs in the second, the big hit being an RBI double from Conner Blake.
In addition to the three double plays, Ashton Curry made a diving catch on a sinking liner in center and catcher Michael Romano threw out his 18th baserunner of the season.
Morgantown ace Dylan Travinski was equally impressive on the mound, striking out five and scattering just four hits over six innings.
The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the second. Dylan Duvall led off with a single and was forced out at second when Mark Biafore reached on a fielder’s choice. Biafore ended up on second following a throwing error and scored the game’s first run when Grant Lively’s infield single ricocheted into the shallow left-center.
"That was some smart, aggressive baserunning by Mark," Shields said. "You need that in a game when you aren't getting the hits."
Lively ended up on second following the throw to the plate in an attempt to get Biafore. Conner Blake followed with an RBI double to the gap in right center, making it 2-0.
Morgantown cut its deficit to one in the top of the fourth. Stephen Milik hit an RBI single after a couple of errors put Koa Silvers on third. The Mohigans had an opportunity to do more damage in the inning as they had the bases loaded with nobody out.
However, Dylan Duvall snagged a hard-hit line drive off the bat of Nate Wolfe and dived back to third to force courtesy runner Ryan Nipper out. Stavrakis followed with his fifth strikeout to get the Tribe out of the inning with the lead still intact.
“Dylan Duvall played a great game at third base today,” Shields said. “On that double play, to catch it and his body is leaning the other way but he gets up and gets back to third to get the runner. That was a big play.”
The Tribe also turned a 5-4-3 double play, started by Dylan Duvall, in the first inning. Justin Duvall induced a 1-6-3 double play after he came out of the bullpen in the sixth.
If a Game 3 is necessary, it will be back in Bridgeport at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Editor's Note: Top photo is of Stavrakis delivering a pitch and the bottom photo features Biafore scoring the Indians' first run of the game. Photos by Joe LaRocca.
