SHORT GAP, W.Va. — After 6 1/3 scoreless innings, the game’s lone run came on the final pitch.
It came off the bat of Jaxon Hare, sending Frankfort to the state tournament with a 1-0 win over Moorefield on Tuesday in the Class AA, Region II final.
“When the top of the order’s up, we think we have a good chance to score,” Frankfort manager Matt Miller said. “(Blake Jacobs) really squared up the ball, got it to the gap for a double.
“Jaxon had two really nice hits late in the game, up the middle, set the stage there. And they’re not gonna throw Blake out at the plate, so both those guys stepped up huge. They have their whole careers, it’s not the first time and hopefully it won’t be the last.”
With one out, Jacobs (Charleston commit) hit a hard line drive to left for a double.
“I love our baseball team, the fight that these guys have,” Moorefield skipper Wade Armentrout said. “They’re good competitors, I think in a game like this, you appreciate the hard work that these guys put in all season. Played a tough schedule to get ready to play this game.”
Hare stepped into the batter’s box and worked a 2-1 count, then sent a ground ball up the middle to walk it off.
Hare had two of five hits for the Falcons (22-7), who had a week in between games awaiting its opponent after several weather postponements.
“I think hitting it really impacted us,” Miller said of the lengthy break. “We were on a roll, and then we didn’t get any live arm action for a couple days. I guess it was one full week, but it felt like longer.”
The story of the game was the pitcher’s duel between Frankfort’s Lanson Orndorf and Moorefield’s Mathew Iman.
Orndorf (Charleston) was a hit shy of a perfect game with eight strikeouts in 72 pitches.
“We’re fielding .980 (fielding percentage) which is unbelievable for a high school team, that’s major league level numbers,” Miller said. “So we’ve been good defensively all year, especially around our infield. Lanson doesn’t give up a whole lot of hard contact either, which makes defense a little easier.”
Caleb Flinn recorded the lone hit for the Yellow Jackets (15-12), a lead-off double to right center in the third.
Iman also struck out eight across six shutout frames, allowing three hits and four walks.
He stranded eight runners, including at least one in each of his final five frames.
“This is probably the best I’ve seen him pitch all year,” Armentrout said. “Had command of all his pitches, his fastball was moving. He was able to control. He’s a guy that everybody on the team can get behind and follow. He’s a great leader, even as a freshman.”
Iman worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and left a pair of runners in the second and sixth innings.
Five of Iman’s eight punch outs were called strikes.
“He defied his scouting report a little bit and worked the inner half of the plate, which was not part of our plan,” Miller said. “He really executed the inner half of the plate, which we had our guys taking the plate away up on the white line. If you can dot an inside fastball when guys are on the line, it’s really hard to hit.”
Moorefield improved its win total by 11 games after a 4-23 finish last spring.
“Those guys were disappointed from last year’s team,” Armentrout said. “They know that they underachieved. Just focused on some different aspects of the game. Really worked hard, came to practice everyday wanting to get better. They did that, and this team’s gonna do great things.”
Frankfort advanced to its 11th state tournament and third straight.
The Falcons have played for a state title the past two seasons, reaching the Class AAA final last season after winning the Class AA tournament in 2024.
“You saw how much lack of excitement it was for the regional plaque,” Miller said. “That’s not what we’re about anymore, that’s not what we play for. They were walking off and they said we don’t even need a picture with that.
“Our goal is not the regional. We do expect to compete every year for a state title right now. That’s what these guys goal is and that’s what we’re gonna go after in a couple weeks.”
The Class AA tournament begins on Monday, June 8, at Marshall University’s Jack Cook Field.
Seedings and first-round matchups are to be determined.