Paul Adkins

Sports Editor

The Man High School baseball team blew a six-run lead and was beaten 11-9 on Wednesday night by the Mingo Central Miners at the old Gilbert High School field.

The Miners led 11-6 going into the seventh but Man was able to plate three runs to close the gap to three.

Mingo Central relief pitcher Jacob Staton then got out of a jam to end the game.

Man led 2-0 in the top of the first as Braden Griffin hit a two-run homer.

The Hillbillies then went up 6-0 with a four-spot in the third.

Jordan Simpson, Man’s starting pitcher, doubled and scored on an RBI single by Jacob Riggins to get the rally started. Cayce Mullins then delivered a bases loaded, two-run single up the middle. Another two-run double by Aaron Willard accounted for the six-run advantage.

Mingo Central then plated five runs in the bottom of the third to pull to within 6-5. The big hit during the frame was Matt Lester’s three-run double.

The Miners then took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, 7-6, as Man brought in relief pitcher Drew Merritt. Gabe Vinson tied the game with an RBI single.

Mingo Central added four insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. One came home on John May’s RBI single. Two more came around on Vinson’s bases loaded, two-run single.

Griffin was 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead Man. Willard was 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Riggins went 2-for-5 with one run knocked in.

The Billies outhit Mingo Central 12-8.

Man (14-10) is scheduled to host Charleston Catholic on Saturday at 4 p.m., then go to Valley Fayette on Monday at 4 p.m.

The Billies then host River View on Tuesday, go to Westside on Wednesday, host Liberty Raleigh on Thursday and then host Poca on May 5 in the regular season finale.

Chapmanville sweeps Tolsia

The Chapmanville Regional High School baseball team swept past Tolsia 11-1 and 10-2 on Wednesday in a home Cardinal Conference doubleheader.

The Tigers improved to 15-9 overall and 8-4 in the league.

No further details were available.

Chapmanville’s league game with Point Pleasant on Thursday night was rained out.

The Tigers are set to play at Wayne on Friday at 7 p.m. in another conference contest.

Next week, Chapmanville goes to Van on Monday, hosts River View on Wednesday in a home doubleheader and goes to Cabell Midland on May 3 in the regular season finale.

The Tigers then host the Class AA sectional the following week, taking on Mingo Central on May 8 and Scott on May 9 in a pair of 6 p.m. starting times.

Logan at Cabell Midland, ppd.

The Logan High School baseball team’s game at Cabell Midland on Thursday night was rained out.

The Wildcats (15-3) are scheduled to host Scott on Friday at 7 p.m., then host Wyoming East on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Next Monday, Logan hosts Mingo Central at 7 p.m. in a makeup game before hosting Cabell Midland on Tuesday at 7. The Cats go to Winfield on Wednesday, host Nitro on May 3 and then host Huntington on May 4 before playing in the Class AAA sectional tourney.

Logan is scheduled to play at George Washington on May 7 in the sectional opener, then host South Charleston on May 8.