SPRING VALLEY -- Zach Moore's ability to be an artful dodger allowed Zach Harrison to come to the plate in the second inning. Harrison promptly belted a home run to cap a four-run inning for Spring Valley.
In the fourth inning, Huntington High, with a run already in, had the bases loaded with two outs. Brandon Eubanks belted a liner to left center only to see Harrison make a diving catch to end the potential rally.
The Timberwolves (15-10) rode the momentum from Harrison's blast and catch to an 8-3 victory over the Highlanders (13-14) on Tuesday in the first game in the the West Virginia Class AAA Region IV Tournament at Spring Valley.
Game 2 in the best-of-three series is 6 p.m. today at Spring Valley.
"When you make plays and hit like that, it makes you more comfortable on the mound," said Heath Booton, who went the distance to get the win on Senior Night. The right-hander allowed five hits and struck out eight.
Spring Valley already had two runs across in the second on a double by Clay Crabtree when Moore reached on a fielder's choice. Crabtree tried to go to third on the grounder, but Huntington shortstop J.R. Votelle fired to Zack Sizemore to retire Crabtree. Thinking that was the third out, Moore kept running to second when he realized the inning wasn't over. He scrambled back to the bag, going wide and avoiding the tag by Ian Alexander who took a throw from Sizemore.
"He did a great job to get back," said Harrison, who watched the play from the on-deck circle. "It was a pretty big play."
George Brody went 3-for-4 with two doubles and drove in two to add to Spring Valley's 12-hit night. Clay Crabtree contributed a two-run double.
"It's good to win the first one and winning on Senior Night makes it more special," Harrison said. "We can't relax though."
As for the big catch, Harrison said, "It was all or nothing. I tried to hustle and ran it down."
Booton, Moore and Crabtree were three of the eight seniors recognized after the game. The other five were Zack Black, Jacob Hunter, Tyler Montgomery, Michael Smith and Cody Bays.
"We control our destiny," Booton said.
Spring Valley coach Jim Hensley said he saw another positive point.
"With two strikes, we put the bat on the ball," he said. "We made plays on defense."
In the third and sixth innings, the Highlanders had two runners on base, but Booton kept the Highlanders off the board.
"They're a good team," Huntington coach Toby Holbrook said of the Timberwolves. "You can't afford to make mistakes against them. When you do, they make you pay. We hit the ball hard, but right at them."
HUNTINGTON 000 101 1 -- 3 5 2
SPRING VALLEY 041 102 x -- 8 12 2
Dempsey, Morehouse (6) and Williams; Booton and Moore. Hitting: (H) Chapman 2B, Votelle RBI, Cook 2-3, RBI; Williams RBI; (SV) Harrison 2-3, HR, 2 RBI; Workman 2-4, Smith RBI, Brody 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Hunter 2B, Crabtree 2B, 2 RBI; Moore 3B.
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