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WEIRTON -- Jacob Lazear started the game with the ball in hands, and he ended it with his bat.
Lazear, who started on the Madonna and picked up the win for the Blue Dons, delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning leading Madonna to a 15-5 victory via run rule against Hancock County foe Oak Glen Wednesday evening at Bowman Field.
The game was the season opener for both teams.
Madonna delivered 10 runs in the first to break the game open.
"We started off hot," Madonna (1-0) head coach T.J. Miller said. "We capitalize on their mistakes. They are a young team. They are very well coached. I have a lot of respect for Coach Hayden and his staff. They are going to keep getting better. They are young. We did what we needed to do. We capitalized on their mistakes. It was a good start."
The Golden Bears committed five runs in the bottom of the first enabling the Blue Dons to put 10 runs up on the scoreboard. The victors tallied just three hits in the inning.
"Our one bad inning was the first inning," Oak Glen (0-1) head coach Eric Hayden said. "They scored 10 runs. We made four or five errors.
"I liked our at-bats against their top three pitchers. They are three of the best pitchers in the valley. I am excited about our approach at the plate.
"We have to field the ball better. When you don't field the ball, you can't add to it by having walks. I am proud of the way we battled. We just have to make the plays."
Lazear pitched the first 2 2/3 innings to record the win for the hosts. Lazear struck out five and walked five before being relieved by David Connors with two outs in the third. Connors struck out three and walked two in his 1 1/3 innings of work on the mound. Reed Wilharm came on to pitch the final two innings, and he struck out five without walking a batter.
"We threw three pitchers today, and all three are going to keep getting better," Miller said. "They are going to figure things out. They are great pitchers. I have a lot of faith in all three of them. They are just going to get better and better."
Josh Maher started on the mound for the visitors, and he took the loss. Maher struck out one and walked three in his 1/3 of an inning of work. He was replaced with one out in the first by Ethan Wedgewood. Wedgewood struck out one and walked three in his 2 2/3 innings of relief work. Colt Hissam pitched the rest of the way. He struck out one and walked three in his 2 1/3 innings on the mound.
The Blue Dons pounded out eight hits – three of which were doubles – in the game.
Individually, Connors contributed two singles, a double and four RBI, Lazear recorded two doubles and four RBI and Reno Fuscardo finished with two singles and two RBI. Also, catcher Kaiden Wells tallied a single and an RBI, while Brayden Miller and Wilharm each produced an RBI.
"I am super proud of my team," Coach Miller said. "We battled today. We took advantage of some mistakes."
Noah Willey tallied a single and an RBI to lead the way offensively for Oak Glen, while Cam Carter and Maddox McKay each collected a single.
The boys in blue scored a run in the first to take an early 1-0 lead, however, Madonna answered right back with 10 runs in the home half of the inning to take a 10-1 lead. Oak Glen plated a run in the third to make it 10-2, but the Blue Dons delivered three runs in the third to increase their advantage to 13-2.
"We lost our focus," Coach Miller said. "We had some complacency. We cannot let teams get back into games. We have to keep our foot on the gas pedal."
Oak Glen countered with three runs of its own in the fourth to make it a 13-5 ballgame before Madonna brought the game to an early end in the sixth.
"Our kids battled," Hayden Said. "We have a young team. We have been through this a few times in the last few years. We have set a standard at Oak Glen, and these kids will continue to fight until the last out. It is imbedded in them. We battle. We are going to keep fighting. Hopefully, we don't give up 10 runs in an inning too often."
The two teams are scheduled to meet again April 16 up at Oak Glen. That game was originally scheduled to be held Thursday.
Oak Glen is scheduled to play Weir at 5 p.m. today on the road.
Madonna is slated to play Linsly at noon Saturday on the road.
Madonna 15, Oak Glen 5
Oak Glen 1 01 300 – 5 3 5
Madonna (10) 03 002 – 15 8 4
OAK GLEN (0-1): Maher LP (1/3IP, 1K, 3BB), Wedgewood (2 2/3IP, 1K, 3BB), Hissam (2 1/3IP, 1K, 3BB) and Chappell. Carter S; McKay S; Willey S, RBI.
MADONNA (1-0): Lazear WP (2 2/3IP, 5K, 5BB), Connors (1 1/3 IP, 3K, 2BB), Wilharm (2IP, 5K, 0BB) and Wells. Lazear 2D, 4RBI; Connors 2S, D, 4RBI; Wells S, RBI; Wilharm RBI; Miller RBI; Fuscardo 2s, 2rbi.