EAST SPRINGFIELD - In Weirton Post 10's win at Richmond Post 740 Wednesday, it was the bottom of the order that made the difference.
The very bottom.
Weirton No. 9 batter Reuben Pine connected for three hits and drove in six runs to lead Post 10's offensive onslaught in the 12-6 win.
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RUNDOWN — Richmond catcher Donavon Martin has Weirton’s Reuben Pine in a rundown during Wednesday’s game. Martin threw to third baseman Mark Smyth for the putout on the play. Weirton won, 12-6.
-- Fred Younce
"Weirton owns us," said Richmond head coach Sam Davis, whose team also struggled to a 9-2 home loss earlier in the year to Weirton. "(Weirton head coach) Billy (Magnone) said he wants to play all his home games here. We threw it in there and they hit it.
"I thought we threw some pretty good pitchers. I tip my hat to them."
Added Magnone of his team's success in East Springfield, "I think it's a relaxed atmosphere personally. It's nice and relaxed. We play well here."
Both teams are preparing for tournament play next week, with Weirton set to begin the Area One Tournament in West Virginia and Richmond to start the 10th District Tournament in Ohio.
"Offensively, we hit the ball well and we kept pressing them so we feel good about that moving forward," said Magnone.
"Offensively thumbs up, but defensively we have to get better. Especially with the tournament coming up."
Added Davis of his team's impending tourney, "We're not swinging the bats real well now. I'm hoping that we get through our little funk and get ready for next week.
"We got our swings in and we got our pitchers some work so we're getting ready for next week. That's the whole deal."
Pine was the offensive leader with his RBIs coming on a two-run single in the second, a three-run triple in the fifth and an RBI single in the seventh. Chris Perna had a single, an RBI double and scored three runs in the eighth spot. John Shaw and Josh Russell each drove in two runs on two hits.
For Richmond, Greg Stagani had a pair of singles and a pair of runs scored. Alec Jones blasted an RBI triple, and Storm Allese had a single and drove in two runs.
Both teams take to the field today, with Weirton hosting Steubenville at 6 p.m. and Richmond traveling to Wayne County for a nine-inning game at 5:30 p.m.
Weirton 12, Richmond 6
Weirton 051 050 1 - 12 14 3
Richmond 010 220 1 - 6 6 2
WEIRTON: Barr (WP, 4K, 5BB), Russell (5th, 1K, 3BB) and Harmon. Barr d, 2r; Russell 2s, 2rbi; Shaw d, s, 2rbi; Smith s, r; Harmon d, 2r; Cessna s, r; Viakley s, 2r; Perna d, s, rbi, 3r; Pine t, 2s, 6rbi, r.
RICHMOND (18-17): Jones (LP, 2K, 2BB), Marcus (4th, 0K, 1BB), Wickham (5th, 0K, 0BB), Hilt (6th, 2K, 2BB) and Martin. Yocom d, r; Horan s; Allese s, 2rbi; Pasek rbi; Stagani 2s, 2r; Marcus rbi; Jones t, 2rbi; Williams r; Hilt r; Fairclough r.
