Weir scores early, often in 12-0 win over CCHS
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WEIRTON -- The Weir baseball team should change its name from the Red Riders to the Running Riders.
Weir sent 18 batters to the plate in the first two innings, and the Red Riders stole 10 bases in that time as Weir shut out Catholic Central, 12-0, in five innings Wednesday evening at home.
"Liam had a no-hitter through four innings," Weir (4-7) head coach Dave Cowden said. "I don't know how many strikeouts he had. He threw a lot of strikes. He pitched to contact. He pitched well.
"We had very good at-bats. We didn't help him by swinging at bad pitches. We hit the ball hard."
Catholic Central fell behind in the bottom of the first inning, and the Crusaders fell behind by even more as the game went on as the Red-and-Black plated multiple runs in each of the first three innings to build a 12-0 advantage. The hosts tallied two runs in the first, six in the second and four in the third.
"It was not our day, no," Catholic Central (0-2) head coach Don Young said. "It's on me. We didn't have it today. We tried some different things. If we step to the right, the ball goes to the left. If we step to the left, the ball goes to the right.
"The kids are frustrated. They are working hard. They are trying hard. Not having Kody today really hurt. He is a key cog for us among the returners. Not having him is a big loss."
Liam Williamson picked up the win on the mound for the Red Riders. Williamson struck out six and walked one. He did not allow a run, while giving up a pair of singles in the fifth.
The Crusaders used four pitchers in the game. None of the four pitched two innings.
Eli Fayak started on the mound, and he took the loss for the Blue and Gold. Fayak, who was relieved during the second, struck out one and walked three. Michael Fabbro replaced Fayak, and he pitched 2/3 of an inning. Fabbro did not record a strikeout while walking three. Hayden Cihon replaced Fabbro with two outs in the second, and he too pitched 2/3 of an inning. He struck out one and walked three. Finally, Joseph Vranish replaced Cihon with one out in the third, and he pitched the final 1/23 innings. Vranish struck out a pair without walking a batter.
The boys from Hancock County outhit the visitors, 8-2.
Individually for Weir, Teddy Glyptis tallied two singles and two RBI, Cayden Braswell and Colson Kimmel each collected two singles and an RBI and Lucas McAllister contributed a single and two RBI. Also for the victors, Alex Zanieski singled, and Trae Cook and Nico Glass each delivered an RBI.
Zach Bryan and Cihon recorded singles for the boys from Jefferson County.
Braswell started the bottom of the first by drawing a walk, and he promptly stole second base. He ended up scoring as part of a double steal when Zanieski, who also walked, stole second base. The throw home was not on target allowing Zanieski to move up to third. McAllister followed with a single scoring Zanieski giving the boys in the red jerseys a 2-0 advantage.
It was more of the same in the next two innings as Weir took advantage of some free bases, used its speed to steal bases before scoring more runs.
The boys in blue got two runners on base in the fifth, but a double play ended the game.
The victory enabled Weir to sweep the season series from Catholic Central. The Red Riders defeated the Crusaders, 6-2, this past Wednesday in the first game played at Weir's new turf baseball field.
"No, this one was not like the first one," Cowden said. "They were without the Carver boy. He got injured during batting practice. I talked to Don. He and I are friends.
"Both of us are just looking to play baseball. The administration did a great job. We are fortunate to have this field. It enabled us to be able to play today."
The game was originally scheduled to be played at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Vaccaro Field in Steubenville, however, the game was moved to a 5:30 p.m. start at Weir.
Weir is scheduled to play John Marshall at 5 p.m. today at home.
Catholic Central is slated to play a doubleheader against Trinity Christian starting at 11 a.m. Saturday morning on the road.
Weir 12, Catholic Central 0
Catholic Central 000 00 – 0 2 2
Weir 264 0X – 12 8 1
CATHOLIC CENTRAL (0-2): Fayak LP (1IP, 1K, 3BB), Fabbro (2/3IP, 0K, 3BB), Cihon (2/3IP, 2K, 3BB), Vranish (1 2/3IP, 2K, 0BB) and Meeks. Cihon S; Bryan S
WEIR (4-7): Williamson WP (6K, 1BB) and L. McAllister. Braswell S, 2RBI; Cooke RBI; Zanieski RBI; L. McAllister S, 2RBI; Glass RBI; Glyptis 2S, RBI; Kimmel 2S, RBI