Published: July 25, 2008 11:31 pm         

Ending on a sour note

Otherwise solid summer closes badly for Post 32

Certainly, this was not the way Beckley Post 32 wanted the season to end.

To lose is one thing, but to squander a seven-run lead in the eighth inning is what the players will have to ponder as the summer enters its backstretch.

After twice coming back from four runs down and shocking top-seeded Ceredo-Kenova Post 93 Tuesday night, Beckley could not hold on to eighth-inning leads in its next two games of the American Legion Area 3 tournament. The last — a 15-12 ouster against C-K — will be difficult to get over.

Beckley led the Beavers 11-4 going into the bottom of the eighth — and it all unraveled.

“We ran into a quagmire there in the eighth inning,” Beckley general manager Scotty Cuthbert said.

That’s putting it mildly.

A misplayed fly ball here, several walks there and some timely hitting by Post 93 spelled doom for Beckley. When it was all said and done, the Beavers had sent 14 batters to the plate and 11 of them scored.

A seven-run advantage had painfully become a four-run deficit.

To its credit, Beckley tried to mount another comeback in the ninth.

It loaded the bases and scored a run, but, with two outs, Jeremy Buchanan’s rocket to third base was fielded by C-K and Mark Cuthbert was forced out to end the game and Post 32’s season.

The Beckley offense was explosive throughout, scoring 45 runs in three games. But the pitching staff took a beating, allowing 44 runs and 51 hits, and its ERA jumped nearly a full run from 6.93 to 7.92.

Douglas Poe turned in a gutsy performance in the loss to C-K. Pitching on two days’ rest — he was the winning pitcher against the Beavers in the opener — Poe worked seven full innings before running into trouble in the eighth.

He could only watch as the bullpen crumbled.

“The kids did a great job (Thursday) night,” Cuthbert said. “Douglas Poe pitched super for seven innings.”

As bad as that one inning turned out, the season itself was a good one for Post 32.

Beckley finished the year 23-17-1 under first-year coach John Sullivan. Highlights included a 24-run outburst against Moundsville Post 3 and a runner-up finish at the Pat Bays Memorial at Spring Valley that included wins over Kanawha Valley Post 94 and host C-K.

Two players hit over .400 for Beckley, which finished with a .340 team batting average.

Mark Cuthbert led the way at .474 to go along with 14 doubles and a team-high 53 RBIs. Rob Stephens hit .455 and also had 14 doubles. He scored 49 runs and knocked in 32.

Buchanan had a breakout summer, slamming 11 home runs and batting .367. He had 43 RBIs and 10 doubles. Bryan Hughes, who drove in the go-ahead runs against Post 93 with a 10th-inning grand slam, hit .372 with 10 doubles and 30 RBIs.

On the mound, Poe was 5-3 and Tyler Zimm 4-0. Logan Ray was 2-2 with a pair of saves.

Cuthbert enjoyed helping the program this summer, praising the “class of the kids.”

“Everywhere we went, the kids were complimented on how they acted,” Cuthbert said. “They are really solid young men. American Legion baseball represents those who have defended our country, and I thought we represented Post 32 with class.”

Of the 15 people on the final roster, only Mark Cuthbert and Markus DeLung (.289, 28 runs) will be unable to play next summer. Cuthbert will be a sophomore at Bethany College, DeLung at West Virginia Wesleyan.

L.G. Shea (Fairmont State) and Poe (University of Charleston) are the only 2008 high school graduates on the team. The others will be back in high school next month.

Cuthbert hopes all of them will be afforded the same collegiate opportunities.

“They were seen by probably 90 percent of the (West Virginia) conference coaches. (WVU head coach) Greg Van Zant was there and Marshall was represented,” Cuthbert said. “And there were a few pro scouts watching.

“It gives the kids an opportunity to be seen. I think some of them can go on and play in college.”