Williamstown starting pitcher struck out 14 batters as the Yellowjackets defeated Doddridge County 1-0, Thursday in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Turns out, mediocre bullpen sessions can also equate to a sparkling performance once the game’s first pitch is thrown.

Thursday afternoon prior to taking the mound against Doddridge County, Williamstown senior Jenner Burge admitted he struggled during warmup. However, when it counted he put those struggles behind him and turned in one of his best — if not the best — outings of his high school career.

Burge struck out 14 and limited DCHS to three singles in a 1-0 win.

A stark contrast to his first meeting with the Bulldogs on opening day when he allowed three runs in a 3-1 loss. That particular afternoon, temperatures hovered in the mid-30s intermingled with rain, snow and sleet.

Thursday at Williamstown, conditions were a balmy 80-plus degrees. Burge and his mound counterpart Tristan Swiger completed the second meeting in a mere hour-and-a-half.

Williamstown first baseman Tyler Keiser tracks down Doddridge County baserunner Dayne Murphy to complete the pick off at second base during Thursday’s game in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“First, I want to thank God,” Burge said. “He helped me a lot. I talked to Him the whole time. He got me through it. My bullpen before the game wasn’t very good.

“I felt better once I got out there. I felt really good through the first inning and I was able to pick it up. I just filled up the zone. Whenever Doddridge put it in play, my defense did their job. They made some big plays for me.”

Burge set the tone by striking out the first two hitters on three pitches. His quest for an immaculate inning ended when he issued a walk to Caleb Hall — the only free pass he issued for the game.

Burge ended the fifth inning with his 12th strikeout and the 200th of his high school career.

“That’s got to be one of his top performances he’s ever had,” Williamstown coach Levi Maxwell said. “He was getting ahead. He was putting guys away. He was getting two strikes on guys, so then he could actually throw his off-speed stuff or blow a fastball by them.

Williamstown catcher Wyatt Siley (25) goes out to greet starting pitcher Jenner Burge, who pitched a complete game 1-0 shutout against Doddridge County, Friday in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“He was in the zone and locked in the whole game. He was locating and changing speeds, and keeping the ball down. They weren’t hitting the ball hard.”

Defense was a give-and-take for DCHS. The Bulldogs turned two double plays, but also committed two infield errors — including a dropped high pop fly which led to the only run of the game.

In the bottom of the second inning, the DCHS third baseman muffed the pop fly, which allowed Noah Powell to reach first base with one out. Powell advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and after Swiger registered the second out on a fly ball to right field, in stepped Tyler Coleman into the batter’s box.

Coleman took one Swiger offering to the opposite field over first base. The DCHS right fielder, second baseman and first baseman all chased the fly but the ball landed into no-man’s land. Powell scored without a throw to put the Yellowjackets in front 1-0.

“Like we preach and preach, put the ball in play because things can happen — we can’t do anything with a strikeout,” Maxwell said. I think Coleman has struck out twice all year so he is one who has been putting the ball in play. That was kind of the hope when he was in the lineup — to put the ball in play .And he did.”

Williamstown pitcher Jenner Burge, left, reaches to catch a pop fly as teammate Tyler Keiser watches during Thursday’s game against Doddridge County in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Williamstown snuffed out a possible big-inning for DCHS in the top of the second inning. Dayne Murphy led off with a single but was picked off in a rundown between first and second base. With two outs and bases empty, Williamstown committed its only error which allowed Evan Kelly to reach first base. Malachi Kelley followed with a base hit to put runners at first and second base.

Burge got ahead of the No. 9 hitter on a 1-2 count and struck him out swimming at a high fastball. DCHS managed just two baserunners the rest of the game.

Trailing 1-0 in the seventh inning, Murphy belted his second single then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. The next DCHS hitter went to a full count, but Burge answered with his 14th and final strikeout.

“Jenner Burge is a good pitcher — he filled it up and got ahead,” DCHS coach Nathan Wright said. “He has good stuff and things just kind of went their way today. They got the one roll that got their run across.

“We had guys in scoring position early then Burge kind of settled in well the last few innings.”

On the very next pitch, Williamstown third baseman Ben Raines fielded a ground ball and made an accurate throw across the diamond to complete the win.

“I would say that was one of Jenner’s top performances — it’s up there for sure,” said Burge’s battery mate, Williamstown catcher Wyatt Siley. “I like how things are shaping together.”

Swiger wasn’t as dominating with the strikeouts, but kept Williamstown’s offense to a minimum and allowed just three singles in a complete-game effort lasting six innings. He struck out two and walked three.

“The first time I pitched against Doddridge, I didn’t have my best stuff,” Burge said. “It was really cold. I couldn’t feel my hands. We played a lot better as a team this game.”

Williamstown 1, Doddridge County 0

WP: Jenner Burge 7.0IP 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 14SO

LP: Tristan Swiger 6.0IP 3H 1R 0ER 3BB 2SO

Leading hitters

DCHS (14-4): Dayne Murphy 2-3; Malachai Kelley 1-3; Josh DeHaven 1-2,SB

Williamstown (15-10): Noah Powell 1-2, run; Tyler Coleman 1-2, RBI; Jenner Burge 1-2

Next game: Sissonville at Williamstown, Monday; Doddridge County at Wahama, Friday.