HS Baseball - Hellems blast sends Nicholas County past Woodrow Wilson

Thus far this season, the Nicholas County baseball team has often found itself victimized by the big inning.

Thursday night in Beckley, it was a reversal of fortune for the Grizzlies.

Riding a double from Coleton Hellems that scored three runs, Nicholas County exploded for five runs in the fourth inning and defeated Woodrow Wilson 8-3 at Thomas F. Parham Field.

"Coleton has been hot here recently and has come through lately," Nicholas County head coach D.J. Martin said. "We started the year with him in the clean-up spot. We slid him forward and switched him with Ira (Mylott). Both of them just took off. I think they are a little more comfortable in those roles and Coleton has just taken off. His hits have been timely."

Coleton Hellems

Nicholas County never trailed in the contest, taking a 2-0 lead before the first Flying Eagle stepped in the box.

Unfortunately for the home team, the deficit was self-inflicted after two errors paved the way for Nicholas County.

Brady Williams cut the Grizzlies led in half with an RBI-single in the bottom of the first before tying the game two innings later.

Tyler Wilhite ripped a one-out double in the third, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a single from Drew Gallaher.

Tyler Wilhite

The game did not stay even for long.

Singles by Colton Burkhammer and Cain Ferrell, along with a walk to Braden Brown loaded the bases with one out.

A ground ball from Lucas Milam made it 3-2, bringing Hellems to the plate. For Hellems, it was read and react for what was eventually the game winning blast.

"The first at-bat he threw me two curve-balls and a fastball," Hellems said. "The second at-bat he started me with a first pitch fastball, I think. I was expected a curve-ball, but I saw it and I just drove the first pitch I could jump on."

Coleton Hellems rips a double to score three runs for Nicholas County

Hellems then moved up after a wild pitch and scored on a single from Mylott, capping the five-run uprising.

Coming off of a tough loss at Sissonville Tuesday, the Nicholas County coach was pleased with his team bouncing back to beat Oak Hill soundly Wednesday and Woodrow Wilson Thursday.

"We had Sissonville the night before these two. So we had three good games lined up in a row," Martin said. "We kind of gave the Sissonville game away late and that is what we have been fighting. We have one or two bad innings all year. The last two nights we have come out of that."

All together, the Grizzlies tallied 12 hits with three each coming from Mylott and Caleb Burns who had a triple. Hellems and Ferrell had two hits each.

"We have hit the ball well all year. That is something that we usually do," Martin said. "We are pretty dangerous at the plate. Our pitchers have started getting location under control. We fought that early on. Defense is coming around too."

Brady Williams had a double among his three hits, while Wilhite had a pair of doubles and Gage Price hit a double as well for the Flying Eagles.

Nicholas County (7-6) hosts Herbert Hoover in a key regional game Tuesday. Woodrow Wilson (8-8) hosts Margaretta, Ohio Friday and county rival Shady Spring Monday.