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St. Clairsville Keeps on Rolling

Photo by Rick Thorp St. Clairsville Post 159’s Zac Clark eyes home plate from third during Saturday morning’s game against the WHC Renegades in Bethany.

BETHANY — Another day, another rally for Post 159.

After falling behind 3-1 Saturday morning at Bethany Park’s Russ Schwertfeger Field, St. Clairsville scored seven unanswered runs en route to an 11-4 victory against the WHC Renegades in a 19U Beast of the East pool play contest under overcast skies.

“I feel like I say it all the time,” Post 159 skipper Mike Muklewicz said, ”but our bats are hot.”

Post 159 finished pool play 5-1 after a 6-3 loss against the Pittsburgh Outlaws. St. Clairsville will play Weirton in the first place bracket today, beginning at 8 a.m.

It also had produced three consecutive games of double-digit runs and hits, something that would make any manager smile.

“It makes it easy for a pitcher when you put 10 runs or more up,” Muklewicz said beaming.

One day after Tyler Blomquist produced a complete-game, five-inning triumph, Dom Wallace put forth another gem. The Martins Ferry High product went the distance, striking out six and walking two to put his squad on the brink of the championship round.

“He did get into a bit of trouble for a minute and we talked over some things and he listed to what we were saying and made the adjustments and got through it.”

It’s true.

The Renegades jumped on Wallace in the first, getting four straight batters on with one out. The final batter in that group — Cole Steery — gave WHC an early 2-0 lead with a single down the left-field line.

A Zac Clark RBI groundout brought Post 159 back to within one in its half of the second, but the Renegades stretched their lead back to two thanks to an RBI single by TJ Delmonte.

But, from that point, Wallace settled in and stymied the WHC bats. He allowed just four hits the rest of the way and one run — part of a two-hit sixth.

Meanwhile, St. Clairsville’s offense stayed potent, scoring three runs in the third. In fact, Post 159 scored at least one run in every inning after.

Mason Ramsay (three singles, double, two RBI) started the Post 159 third with a double to the fence in left. Kyle Storer followed with a single to center that sent Ramsay to third.

With one out and Storer having stole second, Billy Johnson laced a bases-clearing single that tied the game at 3-3. He went to second on a throw home attempting to tag Storer.

Later, with two away, Nick Bilyeu gave St. C. the lead for good with an RBI single that knocked in Johnson.

“Billy Johnson (two singles, triple, three RBI) continues to hit,” Muklewicz said. “Zac Clark continues to hit. And Kade Blomquist had a great day with a triple and a single.

“Up and down the order, I could compliment any of these guys. I hate to single them out.”

All nine players in Muk’s order reached base reached base at least once. Only leadoff batter Jaden Starks didn’t collect a hit, although he did draw two walks and score a run.

“We need to keep that going,” Muklewicz said.

“The last few weeks they’ve bought into whatever we’ve been saying. You can tell they’re having a lot of fun out there. They’re playing well in all three phases of the game.”

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