In the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, Bridgeport High School – at worst – had at least one runner on third base and more than once had the bases loaded looking to either pull ahead from James Monroe or break a 3-3 tie. On every occasion, the Indians came up short.

 

That would all change in the bottom of the seventh inning. And it would change in dramatic fashion.

 

Freshman Ryan Goff proved the big stage wasn’t too big for a first-year player as he delivered a clutch game-winning, two-out RBI single to give the Tribe a 4-3 Class AA state semifinal win over the Mavericks today in Charleston.

 

The win at Appalachian Power Park moves Bridgeport into tomorrow’s ‘AA’ state championship game. BHS will be looking to win an unprecedented fifth-straight championship.

 

The contest will start 50 minutes after the Class AAA title game that begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. It will likely start sometime around or after 1 p.m. Weather issues could force a game time, or even day, change. BHS will face the winner of the contest between Frankfort and Wayne.

 

Getting back for a chance to play for another title seemed far from a sure thing as it appeared the Indians would again squander a chance to score in the seventh. Goff, however, made sure that wouldn’t happen.

 

After James Monroe went somewhat quietly in the top of the seventh inning, Bridgeport made its move. Chapin Murphy led off the frame with a four-pitch walk and was followed by Nick Stalnaker who walked on five pitches. Both runners would then be moved up when pinch hitter Evan Ogden would lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt on a high pitch with two strikes.

 

That set the stage for Goff. On a first-pitch offering from the Mavericks’ third pitcher, Cody Moore, Goff laced a sharp single up the middle and pinch runner Devin Vandergrift easily trotted home for the game winner.

 

“I was sitting dead red for a fast ball and I got it right down the middle,” said Goff. “I just tried to capitalize on it.”

 

And that’s exactly what he did.

 

“This game just gave me a few more gray hairs,” said veteran Coach Robert Shields who is in his 32^nd season.

 

He didn’t get any additional ones thanks to Goff.

 

Goff said Shields gave him a quick piece of advice before heading to the plate.

 

“He said to just be clutch,” said Shields.

 

Fortunately for Bridgeport, Goff followed the advice. The hit will go down as one of the biggest in the storied postseason history of BHS baseball.

 

“That’s a big hit by a freshman … He saw that good first pitch and drove it up the middle and got us off the field,” said Shields. “I was getting a little bit worried.

 

“We’re where we want to be … I’m stifled right now because everything bad that could happen, happened there,” he continued. “It was a little bit of Murphy’s law, me included.”

 

The hit moved BHS to the title game and to 29-10 on the year. The Mavericks closed their season at 17-9.

 

The base hit also helped make a winner of BHS relief pitcher Nate Cole. The senior came in during the fifth inning to collect the victory. He went two and one-third innings and allowed just one hit and a walk, while striking out two.

 

The game started out in Bridgeport’s favor, but would quickly turn into a dogfight until the end. BHS struck in the bottom of the first and the Indians were able to score thanks to a bit of help from the Mavericks. After Cooper Hineman reached on a single to right field, he advanced to second courtesy of a wild pitch.

 

It appeared that there would be no damage as Murphy hit a routine grounder to the shortstop with two down. However, the throw to first was high and a hustling Hineman headed home for an unearned run and a BHS lead.

 

James Monroe didn’t let the early run and miscues get it down. In the top of the second the Mavericks bounced back to tie the contest.

 

Andrew Hazelwood got it started by leading off the inning with a full count walk. After the next two batters were retired, the bottom of the Mavericks’ lineup came through.

 

Eli Ballard got things going with a soft liner to left field that put runners on first and second. Then, it was the number nine batter who put JMHS on the board.

 

Cody Moore followed with a second straight hit to left field. Hazelwood, who was off on the hit, headed home to tie the game. James Monroe eventually had two on with two out, but any hopes of getting either runner across the plate faded when Moore stole second and catcher Ethan Perry faked a throw. The fake drew Ballard’s courtesy runner – Brock Bowers – off the bag far enough to allow Perry to throw a dart and pick off the runner for the final out and leaving the score at 1-1.

 

It wouldn’t stay tied for long.

 

Bridgeport again took advantage of an error to get things rolling in the bottom of the second. After the first two batters were retired, Tyler Pitzer’s hard grounder to the shortstop was booted and the Tribe was alive.

 

BHS kept things going when leadoff batter Koby Kiefer executed a perfect hit and run with a sharp single to left that moved Pitzer to third. Kiefer then took second with an uncontested steal to set the stage for some early-game heroics by Hineman.

 

Hineman, making the most of his return from a torn labrum late in the season, delivered. The senior belted a double to left center that allowed Pitzer and Kiefer to both score and take a 3-1 lead with all three runs being unearned.

 

Bridgeport saw a golden opportunity to add to its advantage in the bottom of the fourth produce nothing. After one was down, an infield single by Goff was followed by a bunt single from Tyler Pitzer and Kiefer loading the bases after being hit by a pitch.

 

Hineman looked to add to the Tribe’s lead with a fly ball to shallow right field. However, once the ball was fielded by the James Monroe right fielder, Brayden Davis, he threw a perfect strike to get Pitzer tagging from third for the inning-ending double play.

 

“I gambled a little bit and tried to tag a boy up on a shallow fly ball and (Davis) made a heck of a throw,” said Shields.

 

The offense could have been helpful as James Monroe bounced back in the top of the fifth. Cody Moore started the frame with a bloop single to right and that was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Monroe Mohler that starting pitcher Tim Via couldn’t field and left runners on first and second with no one out.

 

Grant Mohler then helped his own cause with a single to left center that made the score 3-2. It appeared Bridgeport may get out of the inning unscathed as the next batter lined out to Kiefer who was able to double up Grant Mohler and leave the Indians with two outs on their foe and a runner at third.

 

Then, another weak dribbler proved costly for BHS and beneficial for James Monroe. Connor Moore’s infield hit up the first base line, coupled with his hustle, easily beat out the throw to first and allowed Monroe Mohler to score from third.

 

Bridgeport was able to get out of the rest of a dangerous fifth inning situation. Cole came on in relief and managed to get an inning-ending strikeout with the bases loaded for the Mavericks.

 

“Nate Cole came in and did a heck of a job replacing (starting pitcher) Tim (Via) in a tough situation. I’m proud of him because he threw a lot of strikes,” said Shields. “He kept those guys at bay.”

 

BHS would experience the same fate in the bottom of the fifth, but it would prove even more painful. The Tribe again loaded the bases with no one out and forced out starting pitcher Grant Mohler.

 

“It drives you nuts,” said Shields of the missed opportunities with runners on base.

 

Unfortunately for BHS, relief pitcher Michael Belcher was up to the task. A fielder’s choice that got out the lead runner at home plate was followed by a strikeout and a pop fly to center to end the threat.

 

Over the next two innings, James Monroe would have just one base runner. Bridgeport, however, had a chance to get the game-winning run in the sixth. Kiefer singled with one out, moved to second on a stolen base and to third on a balk. He would advance no further as back-to-back fly outs ended that threat and again left the potential winning run just 90 feet from home plate.

 

“We live to play another day and I’m happy,” said Shields. “I’m not just now showing it much right now.”

 

Bridgeport finished the game with 10 hits. Hineman, Kiefer and Goff led the way with two hits each. Hineman’s total included the two-RBI double. Grant Mohler led the way for James Monroe with a 3-for-3 day that included a walk.

 

Click HERE for a photo gallery from Ben Queen.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Ryan Goff celebrating as he heads to first base, while pitcher Nate Cole is shown in late-inning action. In the third photo, Cooper Hineman delivers one of his two hits, while Nate Paulsen - who scored the game-winning run - is tagged out at home on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning in the fourth photo. In the fifth picture, Koby Kiefer, left, and Tyler Pitzer celebrate after scoring on Hineman's two-run double in the second. Evan Ogden is shown in the sixth photo laying down his seventh inning sacrifice bunt, while Coach Robert Shields does his post-game press conference.