West Virginia Black Bears Take 1-0 lead in NYPL Championship

The Pittsburgh Pirates Short Season-A affiliate, the West Virginia Black Bears, hosted the first game of the New York Penn League Championship Series at Monongalia County Ballpark on Monday, September 14th. The opponent, the Staten Island Yankees, came in fresh off their two game sweep of the Tri-City Valleycats.

The West Virginia Black Bears sent JT Brubaker to the mound while the Staten Island Yankees started Kolton Mahoney. In the top of the second, Zack Zehner drove a JT Brubaker pitch deep to left field for a solo home run into the Yankees bullpen. However, The Black Bears would answer in the bottom of the third. Christian Kelley picked up his second hit of the night. Then Ty Moore singled followed by Logan Hill being hit by a pitch to load the bases. Carlos Munoz came to the plate and hit a bases clearing triple to dead center to give the Black Bears a 3-1 lead. JT Brubaker would really settle down on the mound, at one point striking out four consecutive batters. JT would finish the night after going six innings, allowing just one run on two hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Logan Hill would come to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Hill ripped a triple just over the head of Jeff Hendrix in center field. Carlos Munoz would be intentionally walked but Ke’Bryan Hayes would fly out to end the inning. The Yankees would come to the plate in the top of the eighth, pinch hitter Drew Bridges would walk to start the inning. Zack Zehner would hit a double scoring Bridges. Zehner advanced to third on an Eduardo de Oleo ground out then scored on a ground out by Brandon Wagner to tie the game at three. We would head to extra innings, in the tenth the Yankees would load the bases with one out but fail to plate a run. In the bottom of the eleventh inning, leadoff batter Mitchell Tolman would single and advance to second on a throwing error by the Yankees second baseman. Christian Kelley would walk. Ty Moore would then lay down a sacrifice bunt moving the runners over to second and third with one out.  Daniel Arribas came to the plate and drove a single to center to score Mitchell Tolman giving the Black Bears the win in Game One.

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Black Bears offense was led by Carlos Munoz with two hits and three RBI’s. Mitchell Tolman, Christian Kelley and Ty Moore would each add two hits and score a run. Logan Hill had a triple and scored a run. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Casey Hughston and Erik Forgione each added a hit. Daniel Arribas had just one hit, the game ending single.

As we said, Black Bears starter JT Brubaker went six innings and allowed just one run on two hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Tanner Anderson pitched one inning and gave up two runs on one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Tate Scioneaux threw three innings and allowed just two hits, one walk and struck out four. Daniel Zamora pitched the eleventh inning and struck out one on his way to getting the Win.

Now the series shifts to Staten Island for Game Two on Tuesday and Game Three on Wednesday, if necessary.

POST GAME AUDIO:

West Virginia Black Bears coach Wyatt Toregas talked about the eleventh inning, Daniel Arribas, the team not letting each other down, JT Brubaker’s outing, the crowd knowing when to get loud and helping win the game, the importance of winning the first game and wraps it up with the pitching plan for Game 2.

Daniel Arribas spoke about his final at bat of the game and also speaks about the upcoming Game Two.

JT Brubaker speaks about not having his fastball working, the early home run he gave up and about being one win away.

Christian Kelley talked about Daniel Arribas and Tate Scioneaux

Make sure to tune in to Rum Bunter as we continue to provide coverage of not only the Pittsburgh Pirates but of the West Virginia Black Bears throughout the season!

Next: Black Bears Trying for Championship