Parkersburg Post 15 draws Berkeley first round at state

PARKERSBURG -- Parkersburg Post 15 manager Mike Goodwin's program finished runner-up last week in Area 1 to Wheeling Post 1 to punch their ticket to the American Legion state baseball tournament at the University of Charleston's Welch Athletic Complex.

Following a large roster turnover from 2022, Post 15 finished with a record of 20-11-1 and will play the tournament lidlifter at 11 a.m. Tuesday versus Area 4 champion Berkeley County Post 14, which is 19-5.

A Parkersburg victory would pit them against the winner of South Charleston Post 94 (19-3-1) and Bridgeport Post 68 (28-6) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. If Post 15 suffers a setback, the locals will play at 11 a.m. Wednesday versus the Post 94 and Post 68 loser.

"I've only got like two starters from last year's team that are playing this year and everybody else was new," admitted Goodwin, who will hand the ball to Ethan Marshall (6-2, 1.29 ERA). "Ethan Marshall is pitching for us first game, period. Ethan has been a leader for us on this team with his composure on the mound and how he pitches, his mannerisms. The whole composure thing, he leads by example. He doesn't say much.

"He's a great kid and does whatever he can to help his team. He's picked his team up and has taken us places here. The first game is critical with regards to making a long run in the tournament. We are going to face Berkeley's number one and I know he's good. It will be how much offense can we put together to support Ethan. That's really the bottom line. We have to win game one if we are going to make a run at this."

The two teams have met just once this season with Post 14 securing a 15-3 win on June 10 in Morgantown.

"They had their way with us in Morgantown in the wood bat tournament, but we are a different team," Goodwin said. "Hopefully, we can show up and do a little bit better this time."

Dylan Holliday has been Parkersburg's top hitter this summer. He leads the team with a .439 batting average and a .579 on-base percentage, which has been aided by drawing 19 free passes and being plunked 11 times. He has a team-high 11 stolen bases with six doubles and is tied for the team lead at 27 runs-batted-in with Evan Swain (.349 AVG, 7 2B).

"Dylan is another kid that doesn't say much, he just leads by example," Goodwin said. "He'll be a junior next year. Again, these kids are all younger. They really are. I really don't have any college kids except for one. They've all been facing 19-year-olds all summer. They are far away from 19."

Carter McLain sports a .341 average, which is third on the team. He has three doubles, 10 steals and 18 RBIs. Bentley Kinzer has the only home run for Post 15. The catcher also has seven two-baggers and a baker's dozen runs-batted-in.

Colin McCarter, who is batting .312 with four doubles and 18 RBIs, has been plunked a team-high 13 times.

"Isn't that amazing," Goodwin said of McCarter while adding "honestly, if you wanted to pick something that characterizes this team it's do anything to get on base, and the kids are not afraid. They are fighters. They may be younger, but they are scrappy and will do whatever it takes to get on base."

Caden Parker is the only other player with double figures in stolen bases (10) for Post 15. He's tied with Swain for the team lead in doubles and is hitting .309 with 13 RBIs.

Mason Camp (.271 AVG, 16 RBIs) and Izek Baldwin (.255 AVG, 7 RBIs) have four doubles apiece.

Holliday also leads Post 15 with a trio of saves and is 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA. Swain has a 5-2 record with a 5.32 ERA and younger brother Brady Swain is 3-4 with a 5.53 ERA. Parker is 2-2 and sports a 3.55 ERA.

Following the Area 1 tournament, Goodwin gave his team a couple days off. They took batting practice on Sunday.

"There's a big picnic they are hosting for all the teams on Monday evening at Coonskin Park," added Goodwin, whose squad won the Area 1 tournament last year and finished third at state. "We had to gel very quickly.

"We took some lumps there early on against a few teams, but we got them straight. I'm very proud of them. They have played up the entire year. When they faced competition that was superior to them age-wise, or talent-wise, they did what it takes."

The eight-team double elimination format will have Potomac Valley Post 64 (17-9) taking on Wheeling Post 1 (29-6) at 1:30 p.m. Monday. South Charleston and Bridgeport follow at 4 p.m. with the scheduled 7:30 p.m. start pitting Morgantown Post 1 (21-11) against Charleston Post 65 (10-14).