Published: May 07, 2008 12:34 am            

Taking charge

Big fourth inning, Ice’s gutsy start fuel win

FAIRMONT — Back on the mound less than a week after a no-hitter, Mike Ice didn’t expect another, especially how the West Fairmont pitcher’s Tuesday night was going.

His off-speed stuff was working. His fastball had its usual life but was running a bit high. His right shoulder ached and would need wrapped up after this start was done.

But Ice dealt with the bad, the rough patches and gutted it out. The same could be said for his Polar Bear teammates, who shook off a slow start with a monster fourth-inning in a 9-0 rout of visiting North Marion to open Class AAA, Region I, Section 3 baseball playoffs.

With a win tonight, West (22-6) advances to the regional semifinals, now essentially a rite of spring. The Polar Bears have won 11 straight against the Huskies, seven consecutive in sectional play.

This one — aside from West’s nine-run fourth — didn’t come easy.

North (5-17) kept the heavy favorite off the scoreboard for three innings and was able to antagonize Ice enough, having at least one baserunner reach in each of his six innings.

But Ice never let the Huskies get too comfortable and was able to side-step several potentially big innings. He left a runner stranded, striking out the final two batters in the second, and induced double plays in the first, four and sixth, respectively.

“They’re awesome. The defense was behind me the whole time,” Ice said. “I couldn’t place my pitches well. I was throwing high. I was just all over the place.”

West coach Steve Naternicola, however, credited his junior starter for hanging tough. In all, he gave up three hits, walked four and struck out six.

“It looked like a different Mike Ice who showed up (and threw a no-hitter) against Morgantown, but you’re going to have games where you’re not that effective,” Naternicola said. “But he got the job done. He’s a gamer. He wants the ball. And he gets upset over it, and that’s what we like to see. Mike cares a lot. He takes pride in what he does.”

As do the Polar Bears when it comes to their hitting. Held to two through three innings, they busted out in the fourth for nine runs and eight hits, including three that never escaped the infield.

Garrett Fetty drove in the inning’s first run with a single, and the last on a three-run double to left field. Ice, Joey Buonainuto, Levi Pawich and Josh Stewart added RBIs in the frame.

Huskies’ starter Shaun MCoy, a 14-year-old freshman, was charged with all nine runs. He had two walks and two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

“When we get going, we have big innings,” Ice said. “But some games we hit all the time. I was surprised. (North Marion) was keeping up. I knew I wasn’t doing it, knew the bats had to pick it up.”

North coach Tom Myers knew his team, which briefly led West in the regular-season finale between the two schools April 10, needed to score early to set the tone.

“You can’t win games with three hits,” Myers said. “And we’ve struggled a lot with hitting this year. A lot. (Ice) didn’t have his best stuff, and we still couldn’t take advantage.

“Once West gets on a roll, it’s like a big freight train — whoosh — goin’ downhill.”

Fetty, Buonainuto and Ryan Tennant had two hits apiece for the Polar Bears. Stewart, Ice, Pawich and Brad Dodrill each added hits.

Josh Riffle, Michael Opron and Brandon Stottlemire contributed the Huskies’ lone offensive production.

E-mail Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.