The Logan 8-10 Little League All-Stars lost its first game and then won its next five games to capture the state championship over county foe Chapmanville in Sutton.
Logan had a rocky start entering the tournament as they dropped their first game to a strong Huntington team, 14-3. The loss dropped them into the Runner-Up part of the Herd bracket.
Logan next battled Fairmont and won a 3-2 decision behind a strong pitching performance from Grayson Keith. Keith allowed 1 hit in 5 innings pitched in that contest.
Then, Logan blasted Princeton, 12-4, in the next contest.
“It was a total team effort,” said coach Craig Marcum. ” I feel like we settled down and started swinging the bat really well.”
Logan had 14 total hits in the win while John Wesley Albright and Liam Ferrell combined for a good pitching performance to help earn the win.
Next up was a rematch with Huntington. But this time, Logan’s pitching would stymie Huntington as they won 6-2 to advance to the championship bracket.
Jagger Marcum allowed only 2 hits and struck out 8 batters over 4 innings. Stephen Duty allowed just 1 run in 2 innings of relief.
Logan faced Barboursville in the state semifinals. Logan got the 3-2 win behind an amazing complete game pitching performance by Albright.
In a fantastic defensive game, Logan still need a run-scoring single from Noah Harvey and then a Jase Turner sacrifice fly to score the winning run.
In the championship game, Logan faced a team that served as both friends and a formidable foe in Chapmanville.
“We had no way of knowing if we would be playing Chapmanville or Jefferson,” said Coach Marcum. “So, when they pulled up we were happy for them. We all know each other. I coach some of the kids on Chapmanville’s team, but then we had to go play.”
And play they did. Logan had to rely on pitches with very little experience on the mound in a huge situation. Chandler Grimmett, the team’s only 9-year-old, pitched the first 2-2/3 innings, but it wouldn’t be his last contribution of the night. Paxton Sargent then came in and pitched 3-1/3 innings. Harvey pitched 1/3 of an inning before Tanner Adams came in needed 1 more out.
Adams faced Chapmanville’s Ryan Farley with bases loaded and Logan clinging on to a 16-14 advantage. Farley hammered it to center field, and Grimmett gave ran back, jumped back and caught the ball.
“When he hit the ball, I knew that we were either going to catch it or they were going to win the game,” said Coach Marcum. “I didn’t even look. I heard the fans screaming and our kids going wild. That’s when I knew he caught the ball.”
Grimmett’s heroic catch clinched the first 8-10 state title in Logan Little League history. Liam Ferrell and Jagger Marcum combined for 22 of Logan’s 52 hits during the tournament.
“They’re just a super group of competitors,” said Coach Marcum. “Every one of them can play anywhere on the field. They’re very versatile. They worked really hard and busted their butts. It was something they really wanted, and they achieved it.”
