MASON, W.Va. — Travis Coleman was the man of the hour for visiting Buffalo Thursday evening after firing a two-hitter at top ranked Wahama to force a deciding rubber match game in the Class A, Region Four, Section One post-season baseball tournament. Coleman also made his presence known offensively for the Bison with a single and a double and two RBI’s as the Bison avoided elimination with the 5-2 diamond victory.
Both Wahama and Buffalo now have one loss apiece in the double elimination, sectional format with a championship tilt on tap for Friday at 5:45 p.m. at Wahama. Friday’s finals will be the Bisons’ fifth game in as many days in their post-season run which began on Monday. Buffalo ousted Hannan from tourney action with successive wins over the Wildcats on Monday and Wednesday with the Putnam County team splitting a pair of contests with Wahama on Wednesday and Thursday.
Coleman flirted with a no-hitter through four innings before Tyler Kitchen broke up the no-hit bid with a line drive double to right center leading off the top half of the fourth. Kitchen would later record the only other Falcon safety on the night when he laced a home run into the left centerfield bleachers as he led off the Falcons seventh frame.
Buffalo totaled nine hits on day with seven of those coming over a two inning span. In addition to Coleman’s two safeties were Levi Jordan with a double and a home run and two RBI’s, Nathan Rhodes with a couple of singles, Aaron Lewis a double and a single each off the bats of Corey Hoshor and Joseph Good.
The Bison got to Wahama starter Tyler Roush early and scored three first inning runs on four hits and a couple of walks. Nathan Rhodes got things rolling for coach Billy Hicks’ crew by opening the game with a single back through the middle. Following a ground out Levi Jordan doubled into the gap in right center and Coleman followed with a two-run base knock to left. Corey Hoshor then singled before Aaron Lewis and Joseph Good received free passes to give the Bison another run and an early 3-0 edge.
While Coleman was keeping the White Falcons bats in check Buffalo increased its lead to 5-0 with two more runs in the fourth. Rhodes delivered a one out base hit and later came in to score when Jordan lofted a long fly ball that cleared the right field fence for a two-run homer.
Wahama got one run back in the fifth when Kitchen broke up Coleman’s no-hit bid with a ringing double to right center. Kitchen would later move to third on a strikeout, throw-out before scoring the Bend Area teams first run as Wesley Harrison grounded out to short.
The Falcons final tally came in the seventh with Kitchen again supplying the WHS offense with a liner that cleared the left field fence for a home run. Coleman would settle down after the round tripper to close out the game with successive called third strikes and a ground out to second.
Coleman ended the affair with the complete game pitching win. The junior allowed two runs, both earned, on two hits with six strikeouts and just one walk. For Wahama, Tyler Roush absorbed his first mound setback of the year to fall to 6-1. Roush worked six innings allowing five runs, all earned, on nine hits with eight strikeouts, three walks and a hit batter. Wyatt Zuspan worked the final frame on the hill for the White Falcons.
After falling in the sectional outing Wahama falls to 24-4 on the 2011 spring baseball season while Buffalo improves to 11-17.
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