Schramm’s strong performance guides Williamstown to 4-0 win over Buffalo

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Parker Schramm wasn’t at his best in his final start before Friday’s Class A semifinal.

While the Yellowjackets rallied to win this game in the first game of their regional series against Wheeling Central, Schramm ensured no comeback would be necessary against Buffalo by being there from start to finish at GoMart Ballpark.

Schramm pitched a one-hit complete game shutout, and the Yellowjackets opened a comfortable advantage with a three-run sixth inning in a 4-0 win over the Bison.

“It definitely wasn’t my best outing and I know that, but coach Maxwell and I talk about rhythm every time I throw,” Schramm said. “When I go fast and get into rhythm, I’m a much better thrower. I trusted him on that today, got into the rhythm and did my job.

The result sends top-seeded Williamstown (30-5) to Saturday’s Class A final against the winner of Charleston Catholic-East Hardy.

With the way the Bison (23-13-1) shot and defended, the Yellowjackets needed all of Schramm’s performance to advance and avoid becoming the third seed to lose a semifinal in as many tries at this year’s state tournament.

“We’ve been here before as a No. 1 seed and lost,” Williamstown head coach Levi Maxwell said. “So it’s one of those things where it’s good to overcome the hurdle of that first game of being the No. 1 seed. There’s pressure that comes with that, but our guys were prepared. We have been here before and knew what to expect.

Williamstown’s first two batters – Wyatt Powell and Maxwell Molessa – saw hits earned by Bison centerfielder Bryce Downey and shortstop Carson Saunders, respectively.

“Both teams played incredible defense and that’s a big part of why we’re both here,” Maxwell said.

Yet, starting with his first out in the second out of the first frame, Schramm retired eight straight Buffalo batters as he retired the team in order in the second and third frames.

He had a lead to work with when he took the mound for the third after Carson Hill hit a double to left that brought in Schramm, who had helped his cause by leading off the second with a double.

Yet Bison starting pitcher Cole Richardson retired Ty Ott for the final out of the third to strand a runner at third and keep his team’s deficit at one run heading into the fourth.

“I would have loved to win this game and win tomorrow,” said Buffalo interim head coach Josh Isaacs, who assumed the role at the end of the season. “But I’m proud of what these guys did. We played the #1 seed in the section and beat them, beat a higher seed in the region and these guys never gave up and learned a lot along this journey. The guys who come back, it will help them prepare for next year, and the guys who continue will be better prepared for life.

BHS threatened to score in the fourth as Richardson led off with a single, took second on a sacrifice fly and stayed there after Bryce Downey tied the game with two outs. Schramm then induced a fly ball up the middle off Brady Kidd’s bat, and Williamstown’s Wyatt Powell got a good read to make a catch and preserve his team’s 1-0 lead.

“Our defense is going to play behind us. We know that and we’ve trusted them all year,” Schramm said. “Throwing strikes is the biggest key to pitching on this team.”

It looked like WHS might extend its lead in the fifth with a two-out rally. Cooper Martin led off with a single and stole a second, and Powell and Molessa followed with back-to-back walks to pack things up. However, Richardson stood his ground and got Ott to hit a ground ball to get to second for the final out to keep his team’s deficit at one run.

It hardly mattered, however, as Schramm retired the side in order in the sixth for a second straight inning, and the Yellowjackets took complete control of the game when they came to bat in the sixth.

Luke Ankrom drew a one-out walk and Hill followed with a triple to left center that allowed pinch runner Sam Terry to score.

Jenner Burger then sent a ball to center that was lost in the sun and fell for a double, allowing Hill to score his team’s third point.

Hill plated Hill with two outs of Cooper for the final inning as Schramm worked a perfect seventh to make it the 10th straight takedown and end the complete game.

Schramm struck out five and issued two walks.

“Parker is one of the guys we’ve had all year that came out and gave us a chance to win, but today he had a little extra gear today and he got the job done and did what we needed him to do,” Maxwell said.

Hill had two of the game’s eight hits and was the only player with more than one.

Richardson had a valiant effort in the loss, limiting the Yellowjackets to seven hits in six innings. He walked three times and struck out two.

“They knew what they had to lose and what they had to gain. We talked about it at the end of the night, you better be mentally and physically exhausted or it will eat away at you for the rest of your life,” Isaacs said. “These guys gave everything they had and I’m very proud of the way they performed today.”