Williamstown's Tyler Coleman dives safely into home during the second inning of the Yellowjackets' 3-2 Little Kanawha Conference semifinal victory versus Gilmer County on Tuesday at Bill Coiner Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Wyatt Powell did it at the plate and on the hill here Tuesday evening at Bill Coiner Field as Williamstown edged Gilmer County, 3-2, in a Little Kanawha Conference semifinal.

The now 16-11 Yellowjackets of head man Levi Maxwell watched Powell fire six frames of two-run ball and collect what proved to be the game-winning RBI as Jenner Burge worked a 1-2-3 seventh to earn the save.

Williamstown, which honored Burge pregame for recently recording his 150th career strikeout, now will take on Doddridge County at 7 p.m. Friday at South Harrison with an eye on an LKC three-peat.

“That was a great game. We’ve watched a lot of his stuff and he’s a heck of a pitcher,” Maxwell said of Titan right-hander Kolten Holbert (6IP, 4BB, 9SO). “You can see why he’s been so successful, and you can see why that team has 20 wins.

“Even if you come out and you put your best squad together you get challenged. I mean that’s why the LKC is the best conference in my opinion. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Williamstown third baseman Ben Raines tags out Gilmer County's Roddick Page during the Yellowjackets' 3-2 Little Kanawha Conference semifinal victory on Tuesday at Bill Coiner Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Powell fell behind 1-0 in the first after he walked leadoff man Tyler Ratliff and Holbert followed with a run-scoring double to center.

The senior right-hander proceeded to retire nine straight before Jacob Stewart touched him up with a solo bomb to left-center leading off the fourth. However, the Titans left Remi Huffman stranded at third in the inning. In the fifth, Titan skipper Jacob Wolfe’s club stranded runners at first and second and failed to score in the sixth after having the bases loaded with one out.

“He gutted it out,” Maxwell said of Powell, who allowed six hits with three walks and five strikeouts. “He didn’t have his best stuff today, but he battled and gave us a chance.

“He held those guys to two runs and gave us a chance for our offense to score some runs, and then Burge came in and shut the door.”

Tyler Coleman’s infield single got things going for the ‘Jackets in the bottom of the second. Leadoff man Jackson Fulton tied the game with his triple to right-center. Powell then followed with an RBI single to center.

Williamstown's Wyatt Powell throws a pitch during the Yellowjackets' 3-2 Little Kanawha Conference semifinal victory versus Gilmer County on Tuesday at Bill Coiner Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Tyler Keiser, who robbed Ratliff of extra bases for the first out in the seventh after he made a diving stop near the first-base line, had a leadoff double in the third, but was left stranded.

After Stewart’s round-tripper, the ‘Jackets immediately responded in the last of the fourth. No. 8 hitter Ben Raines coaxed a base on balls before Daniel Cunningham was erased after he attempted to bunt and Titan catcher Dallas Goodrich made a diving grab in foul ground. However, Powell hit a shot deep into left with two outs that fell for a double and plated Raines with the winning run. Holbert then retired the final seven WHS batters.

Gilmer County, which went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, got a leadoff single in the sixth from cleanup hitter Roddick Page, who was later erased on a fielder’s choice. With two outs and the bases loaded, Titan No. 9 hitter Seth Stewart smoked a ball into right and despite slipping and falling toward the ground, Al Schmidt managed to make an acrobatic grab to escape the jam.

“We made some great plays today. Al saved probably two or three runs making that catch,” said a relieved Maxwell. “I mean Keiser saved a couple doubles today, a couple runs. Defensively we’ve been playing really well. That’s something you got to do everyday.

“Offense has been struggling a little bit, but today we were able to scrape by and get three runs and hold them. All of our guys have been playing solid baseball. We took advantage of some of their baserunning miscues. It all adds up and we came out.”

Williamstown's Tyler Keiser strokes an opposite-field double during the third inning of the Yellowjackets' 3-2 Little Kanawha Conference semifinal victory versus Gilmer County on Tuesday at Bill Coiner Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Gilmer County, which fell to 21-4 and is scheduled to play at 5 p.m. today at Braxton County, will take on Buffalo at 5 p.m. Friday at South Harrison in the LKC consolation game.

“We play some really good teams and have a hard schedule. We do that on purpose to come down to these games because once it comes down to LKC play and once we get into regional play we’re going to see the best arms every game,” added Maxwell.

“Burge is lined up (for Friday.) We got Noah Powell and a few guys out of the bullpen. We’ve got to be able to come out and battle. Getting to the championship game for a third year in a row is fantastic and hopefully we can win again.”

Little Kanawha Conference Semifinal

at Bill Coiner Field

Williamstown head coach Levi Maxwell, left, and Gilmer County skipper Jacob Wolfe meet with the umpires prior to Tuesday night's Little Kanawha Conference semifinal game at Bill Coiner Field. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Williamstown 3, Gilmer County 2

Gilmer 100 100 0 – 2 6 1

WHS 020 100 x – 3 5 0

WP: Wyatt Powell 6IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 5SO

SAVE: Jenner Burge 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2SO

LP: Kolten Holbert 6IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 9SO

Gilmer County (21-4) hitting: Tyler Ratliff R; Holbert 1-3, 2B, RBI; Jacob Stewart 1-4 R, solo homer, RBI; Roddick Page 2-3; Remi Huffman 1-3, 2 SB; Lex Grogg 1-3

Williamstown (16-11) hitting: Jackson Fulton 1-2 R, 3B, RBI; Powell 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Tyler Keiser 1-2, 2B; Tyler Coleman 1-3 R; Ben Raines R

Next games: Gilmer County at Braxton County, 5 p.m. today; Williamstown vs. Doddridge County, 7 p.m. Friday at South Harrison in LKC title game; Buffalo vs. Gilmer County, 5 p.m. Friday at South Harrison in LKC consolation game.