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Brunner, Pierro Return To the Hilltop

Managers were once teammates at West Liberty University

Photo by Kyle Lutz Wheeling manager Jon-Michael Brunner and Jefferson County manager Anthony Pierro pose for a photo after Wednesday game at West Liberty. Brunner and Pierro were teammates at West Liberty from 2013-2015 where the Hilltoppers accounted for 75 wins.

WEST LIBERTY — It was a trip down memory lane for Wheeling and Jefferson County Teramana managers Jon-Michael Brunner and Anthony Pierro on Wednesday evening. In a regular season game, Post 1 took on Post 33 at Kovalick Field on the campus of West Liberty University.

Brunner, who holds the helm for Wheeling and Pierro, who leads the way for Jefferson County, may have been in separate dugouts, but not long ago they were playing as teammates on the same field representing the Hilltoppers.

“It was weird when we scheduled,” Brunner said. “We played at Steubenville early and then on our schedule, I thought it would be nice to just go up and coach at the field instead of play. I called him (Pierro) up and he said, ‘Absolutely.’ Coming (Wednesday) and watching the kids hit batting practice, it was nice. We stood out back and talked about what we used to do around here, and just be able to watch our kids perform.î

Brunner and Pierro were teammates for three seasons (2013-2015) and had their fair share of success with the Hilltoppers as they compiled a total of 75 victories during that span.

During their sophomore campaigns in 2013, West Liberty finished with 21 wins which was the first time since 2007 the Hilltoppers broke the 20-win barrier in a season.

Brunner secured a batting average of .352 tallying 27 hits, five doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI. Pierro belted 39 hits, five doubles and brought home 10 runs.

The next year, the Toppers had another season for the books as they complied a 26-25 record.

It was the first winning season for West Liberty since 1998.

For their junior year, Brunner compiled a .304 BA with 42 hits, five doubles and 13 RBI. Pierro was just as impressive with a .336 BA to go along with 47 hits, nine doubles and 16 RBI.

“There’s been a lot of good changes since I’ve been here,” Pierro said. “It’s always a good sign with me and JM being teammates in college and (West Liberty baseball) coach (Eric) Burkle for being here. It’s a great feeling and it’s good to be back. I’m glad that the kids got to experience something. I look forward to doing this every year from now on.”

During Brunner and Pierroís senior year, the Hilltoppers tallied 28 victories.

Brunner had a team-high .347 BA and also led the way in on-base-percentage (.405). He accounted for 41 hits, five doubles and 16 RBI.

Pierro finished his final year with a .301 BA with 49 hits, seven doubles, two homers and 26 RBI.

With so much success in their playing days, both never would have thought they would coach on the field where they previously played.

“Actually no. It’s cool,” Brunner said on his thoughts on coaching at Kovalick Field. “It’s really cool to come back and we were telling stories on how I would be the first one out in center field all the time and how I used to hit behind Anthony. He was a better hitter than I was. It’s funny now, but a couple of years ago, we were competing together and put a lot of hard work on this field. It was good to have a competitive game (Wednesday).”

Pierro had similar thoughts.

“No I would have never guessed it,” Pierro said. “It’s just one of those things that just happens and I’m enjoying the experience and hopefully we can keep coming back.”

Playing on the same team, also most likely ensures a brotherhood will form between teammates. Also, that brotherhood will remain in tact for years after graduation. That’s what it’s like for Brunner and Pierro.

“We’re all good friends,” Pierro said. “We obviously want to beat each other, but when it comes down to it, we’re really good friends and it’s good just to compete and see how we’re doing as coaches, individuals and be able to go out afterwards, talk about everything and still be good friends. We all stay in contact and it’s good to keep catching up and just keep competing against each other.”

Also being a coach, both Pierro and Brunner love to see their players grow and develop their game.

“Anthony… He’s such a good kid and he really wants what’s best for his players,” Brunner said. “It’s nice that we’re both kind of coaching the younger kids in our areas because he played Legion and I played Legion. It was nice to see how competitive they are and allow us to compete with them.”

With the many memories both had on the playing field at West Liberty, Brunner and Pierro look forward to making plenty more in the dugout as they would like to make this an annual game at West Liberty.

“Every time we play Wheeling, it’s a good game,” Pierro said. “It’s the two best teams pretty much in the valley going after each other. I wish we could play each other more, and hopefully in the future we do.”

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