Wheeling scores early, often against Wellsburg
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WELLSBURG -- The first inning told the story.
Wheeling's first seven batters all reached safely and scored against Wellsburg, and Post 1 went on to defeat Post 34, 17-1, in five innings by the mercy rule Wednesday evening at Brooke High School.
"The guys got going in the first," Wheeling (24-5) head coach Jon-Michael Brunner said. "We have hit pretty decent all season. We pretty much continued that today.
"We got off to a good start on the mound and defensively. We just kept hitting. That's baseball."
The visitors pounded out 17 hits on the day -- six of which went for extra bases.
Wheeling tallied eight runs in the top of the first and the visitors never looked back.
"Wheeling is a good team," Wellsburg (4-9) head coach Micah Kinsley said. "Every time we play them, they hit the ball all over the field. If you don't play solid defense and hit the ball as well as they do, you are going to get beat.
"We have a very young team. We have seven freshmen, and we had an eighth grader out there today. We are an extremely young team. I knew we were going to take our lumps.
"Our kids hung in there. Our second pitcher -- he's a freshman -- and he came in and did well. He's a nice lefty.
"I hope all these kids stick together in the next couple of years. If they do, we will be a team with a bunch of seniors and juniors, and we will be able to compete against teams like Wheeling and Parkersburg."
Kinsey is a former Post 34 player. He played for Bob Sutton during his time playing for Wellsburg.
Post 1 plated two more runs in the third and two in the fourth before producing five more in the fifth.
Post 34 pushed a run across in the fourth.
Both teams used multiple pitchers.
Nate Simon started and recorded the win for the visitors from Ohio County. Simon struck out two without walking a batter in three innings of work on the mound. Jack Scouvart came on to pitch the fourth. He did not record a strikeout while walking one. Nick Tsoras pitched the fifth. He also did not record a strikeout while walking one.
"Micah and I have a good relationship," Brunner said. "I understand what he is going through. He is doing a good job with what he has. His guys compete. His guys come out and play. That is what Legion is all about.
"They have come out, and they have played around 20 games. Their guys come out and play. That shows what type of coach he is and what type of coaching staff they have over there.
"Legion baseball is about giving kids in the area that chance to play."
Hunter Mozingo took the loss for the hosts. Mozingo struck out one without walking a batter in his one inning of work on the mound. Blaine Beatty came on to pitch to start the second, and he pitched the next 3 2/3 innings. Beatty struck out a pair while walking four. Anthony Maple replaced Beatty with two outs in the fifth, and Maple retired the lone batter he faced on a popup.
"I love their coaches," Kinsley said. "If I could play them 50 times, I would, if you didn't count wins and losses. They are a good group of guys. Wheeling is a good team."
The victors collected seven hits in the first inning, setting the tone for the game.
Individually, Luke Myers recorded a three-run home run, Quinn Jamison contributed a three-run triple and Jared Marsh delivered two doubles and two RBI. Also, Alex Taylor tallied two singles and a double, Jack Selmon and Scouvart each chipped in with two singles and two RBI and Jaxon Murray and Simon each produced a single, a double and an RBI. Finally, Trey Prather picked up two singles and an RBI.
All three of the hosts hits were singles.
Zach Omery, Raymond DeFranco and Aiden Lathem all tallied a base hit for Wellsburg.
Omery led off the bottom of the first inning, but he had to leave the game after suffering an injury on a pickoff attempt.
"Our younger kids are starting to find their stride," Kinsey said. "We have a few kids going on vacation next week, so they will miss the tournament.
"Zach dislocated his shoulder. He is done for the year. I'm not going to risk anything with him. We have another kid who has a shoulder injury. He is done throwing, but we use him to hit.
"Between injuries and vacations and work schedules, it is tough. We struggle to get everyone here. When we are able to, we are good. We compete. It is just tough getting everyone here."
Wellsburg's next scheduled game is Monday in the Area One Tournament. The game will be played down in Wheeling.
Wheeling is scheduled to play Follansbee Post 45 at 6 p.m. Friday back at Brooke.
Wheeling 17, Wellsburg 1
Wheeling 802 25 – 17 17 1
Wellsburg 000 10 – 1 3 4
WHEELING (24-5): Simon WP (3IP, 2K, 0BB), Scouvart (1IP, 0K, 1BB), Tsoras (1IP, 0K, 1BB) and Selmon. Taylor 2S, D; Scouvart 2S, 2RBI; Simon S, D, RBI; Murray S, D, RBI; Prather 2S, RBI; Marsh 2D, 2RBI; Selmon 2S, 2RBI; Jamison T, 3RBI; Myers HR, 3RBI.
WELLSBURG (4-9): Mozingo LP (1IP, 1K, 0BB), Beatty (3 2/3IP, 2K, 4BB), Maple (1/3IP, 0K, 0BB) and Gajtka. Omery S; DeFranco S; Lathem S.