Berkeley Springs offense overwhelms Paden City 16-2

Last Week Berkeley Springs High School baseball coach Trey Barcus was quoted as saying that "the offense hasn't clicked yet." That may have been true last week, but it certainly isn't true any longer as the Indians banged out 16 hits, nine extra base hits, including two home runs, in a 16-2, five-inning, win over Paden City on Tuesday, April 10, in Paden City.

Berkeley Springs came out swinging, scoring five runs in the top of the first, four more in the second and five more in the third to take a quick 14-0 lead.

"We really hit the ball well today," Barcus said. "It was nice to see the offense click on all cylinders."

Jeremy Michael had the biggest of the Indian bats, going 3-4, with a grand slam and five RBI. Mark Carter also had three hits and two RBI. Jake Freels added a double, a triple and three RBI, Nick Campanelli had a pair of hits, while Nate Sirbaugh, J.T. Thomas, Michael Twigg, Sean Diehl, Joey Berens and Jacob Waugh had one hit each.

Berens' lone hit was a solo home run, while Thomas and Twigg collected two RBI each.

Waugh started on the mound for Berkeley Springs and earned his first win of the year. He allowed one hit, striking out two and walking two. Carter relieved Waugh and went the final two innings, allowing two runs on one hit, walking two and striking out three.

"This was a great way to start our spring trip," said Barcus. "I thought we played a pretty complete game, making the routine plays, getting solid pitching and hitting the ball hard."

Little did Barcus know that his next three games on the spring trip against Bishop Donahue, Magnolia and Clay-Battelle would be cancelled because of inclement weather. Mother Nature has not been kind to spring sports and the number of games that have been lost makes it difficult for progress to be made.

"We need the weather to cooperate so we can get on the field," said a frustrated Barcus.

Berkeley Springs' scheduled game with Hancock on Monday, April 16, was also cancelled because of weather. The Indians still have two scheduled double headers this week. Today, April 18, Berkeley Springs will host Keyser for two games beginning at 4 p.m. and will then travel to Hedgesville for the second double header the following day.

"We are looking forward to the games with Keyser and Hedgesville," said Barcus. "Hedgesville is a good Class AAA program that we split with last year and Keyser is one of our regional rivals that defeated us all three times we played a year ago."

Berkeley Springs has a fine 7-three record on the year.