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Steubenville gets back to winning ways

DOUBLING — Steubenville’s Ryan Neely rips a bases-clearing double against Martins Ferry on Thursday. (Photo by Andrew Grimm)

STEUBENVILLE — As Steubenville and Martins Ferry met Thursday evening at Vaccaro Field, the upcoming Ohio baseball tournament was in the back of both clubs’ minds.

Big Red wanted to clean up some things that’s been hindering them of late, and the Purple Riders just wanted to get some different guys on the field.

The differing philosophies of preparing for the games that matter most resulted in Steubenville pulling away right from the start for an 11-0, five-inning victory. What made veteran Steubenville coach Fred Heatherington the happiest about it was his club did not let up once it got the lead.

“That’s been our problem — we have been getting up early and not holding onto the lead,” Heatherington said. “(Thursday) we did, and we got after it the whole time. That’s what we’ve been working on. It’s good to see (going into the tournament). Last night we got a lead and kind of died a little bit and left seven guys on base. (Thursday) we did not do that.

“When you get guys on, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, where you’re playing or what game it is. You’ve just got to get those guys in.”

Calvin Bickerstaff went the distance for Big Red (13-5), giving up just two hits (both singles) while fanning six and not issuing any walks.

“Calvin settled down,” Heatherington said. “He’s been struggling lately, but he was smooth tonight. He did not try to overthrow them and stayed in the zone the whole game. We got him some work, and we need to get all of our pitchers some work for the tournament.”

His performance, and Steubenville’s game as a whole, caught the attention of Martins Ferry (10-8) coach Anthony Reasbeck.

“Calvin Bickerstaff is the real deal,” he said. “Steubenville is going to make a lot of noise in the tournament. I would not want to play them. I am glad that we are Div. III and they are Div. II. I wish them all the luck going forward.”

“Saturday is when it counts. We’d like to come up here guns blazing and give them all we’ve got, but right now we’re really looking forward to Saturday and tournament time. This wasn’t our best. We have some guys out, and we wanted to give some young guys a look.”

Big Red took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with an RBI groundout by Johnny Agresta that brought home Gino Pierro, who drew a leadoff walk from Purple Riders starter Trevor Hanson.

The bottom of the second is when it really turned in Big Red’s favor as it sent 12 batters to the plate and drove in eight runs. Pierro picked up an RBI by drawing his second walk with the bases loaded, and Alec Taylor singled in another run to make it 3-0.

Designated hitter Ryan Neely stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and did not leave them that way long, driving the first pitch he got from Hanson into the outfield to clear the bases with a double.

Clayton Criss drove in a run with a double of his own — his second hit of the inning — and Mason Rubish drove in a run with a groundout.

Niko Kausky came off the bench and made it 10-0 with a pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the third, and Carlo Biasi drove in the final run in the fourth with his second single of the game.

Martins Ferry’s tournament begins on Saturday, hosting rival Bellaire. Steubenville faces Edison this evening at Jefferson Lake State Park, then awaits the winner of Saturday’s Claymont-Indian Creek game for its tournament opener Tuesday at Vaccaro Field.

Steubenville 11, Martins Ferry 0

Martins Ferry 0-0-0 0-0 — 0 2 1

Steubenville 1-8-1 1-x — 11 9 1

MARTINS FERRY (10-8): Hanson (LP, 3 2/3IP, 11R (11ER), 8H, 3K, 3BB, 3HBP), Smith (1/3IP, 0R, 1H, 0K, 0BB) and Duck.

STEUBENVILLE (): Bickerstaff (WP, CG, 0R, 2H, 6K, 0BB) and Criss.

TWO OR MORE HITS: Steubenville (Criss 2, Biasi 2). DOUBLES: Martins Ferry: None; Steubenville: 2 (Neely, Criss). TRIPLES: None. HOME RUNS: None. RBIs: Steubenville (Pierro, Taylor, Agresta, Neely 3, Criss, Rubish, Kausky, Biasi).

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