CHAPMANVILLE — It was a fitting Senior Night for the Chapmanville Regional High School baseball team on Wednesday evening.
One of the Tigers’ seniors, Jordan Banks, fired a one-hitter as the Class AA No. 8-ranked Tigers won 6-1 over River View at Chapmanville’s Ted Ellis Field.
The lefty was just two batters away from a perfect game as River View was only able to get two of its hitters on base with a one-out walk in the top of the fifth and a leadoff triple in the seventh. The Raider player was able to score on a groundout to account for the only run of the game for River View.
Banks struck out 12 batters and had pin-point control, allowing just the one walk as Chapmanville improved to 17-10 on the season.
Chapmanville also honored its other seniors players — Tyler Cox, Tyler Killen, Tyler Collins and Joe Woody.
It was the regular season finale for the Tigers, which are scheduled to play next Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Mingo Central at home in the second game of the Class AA sectional tourney. Mingo Central plays Scott in the sectional opener on Monday at 6:30 p.m., also at Chapmanville. The sectionals then continue on May 9, 10 and 11, if necessary.
Tigers’ coach Eric Ellis said Banks is in post-season form. It was Banks who tossed a one-hitter last June in the Class AA state championship game in Charleston — a game which was won 8-0 by the Tigers over Wyoming East.
“This was the best that I’ve seen him throw this year,” Ellis said. “He had good velocity, his slider and curve balls were good and he had a good knuckleball. Most people don’t know that he has a knuckleball. He’s worked a lot on his off-speed pitches and it has made him more of a complete pitcher. It was a great effort on his part and we feel good going into the sectionals with Banks and Tyler Cox on the mound. Tyler Cox has also been pitching very well.”
Banks also helped his own cause at the plate as he was 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and two RBI.
Collins also made the most of Senior Night as he went 3-for-3 as well at the plate.
Cox, Tristan Thompson and Brady Cox all had base hits for the Tigers.
Winfield 7, Logan 3
Winfield ended the Logan High School baseball team’s 13-game winning streak with Wednesday night’s 7-3 victory over the Class AAA No. 7-ranked Wildcats at home.
Brandon Wright went 2-for-4 with a double and Matt Wright, Zach Gunter and John Bellomy each went 2-for-3 for the Generals (14-11).
Z. Minnick was 2-for-4 for Logan, which dropped to 18-4.
The Cats are scheduled to host Nitro on Thursday at 7 p.m. and then host Huntington on Friday at 7 p.m. at Logan’s Roger Gertz Field.

















