Photo by Seth Staskey Linsly shortstop Jack Scouvert looks for a call as he applies the tag to Weir High’s Trent Tafflan during the first inning of Monday’s game in Wheeling. Tafflan was safe on the play, but the Cadets went on to post a 12-4 victory.

By SETH STASKEY

Times Leader Sports Editor

WHEELING – Wednesday marked the opening day for baseball in the state of West Virginia.

Linsly swung the bats as if it was late April.

The Cadets blistered three Weir High pitchers for 12 hits, took advantage of five Red Rider errors and cruised to a 12-4 victory at Holloway Field.

“We had a couple of scrimmages rained out, so our guys were ready to play,” Linsly head coach Jay Carwright said. “We swung the bats well against some solid pitching.”

The Cadets (1-0), who spotted the Red Riders (0-1) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, got the bats going immediately against Red Rider starter Tyler Kelly.

All told, Linsly sent 11 to the plate in the first en route to scoring seven runs and pounding out six hits.

The big hit of the inning was supplied by catcher Jack Selmon, who ripped a bases-loaded triple to the fence in leftcenter.

Adam Och, Trey Prather and Alex Taylor also had a RBI hit in the first.

“Linsly is a very good hitting and well-coached team,” Weir High head coach David Cowden said. “Against a team like that, you almost have to be perfect and we made several mistakes. It’s game one, so no one expects perfection. We’ll get better.”

Weir High seemed to gain a little momentum when it scratched across two runs in the top of the fourth off Prather, who came on from the pen for Brodie Selmon, who earned the win.

Luke Gillette and Trent Taflan both had a RBI, but Prather made a web gem on a rocket hit up the middle to escape further damage,

From there, the Cadets didn’t look back. Collin Paull had a RBI double and Prather drove him home with a single in the fourth.

In the sixth, talented junior Luca DiLorenzo, who was on base four times from the lead-off spot, had a two-run single.

“Weir was mixing up its pitches and not just lobbing it in there, but our guys came ready to hit,” Cartwright said. “We have some big, strong kids who can swing it. It’s exciting. It’s a good way to start.”

Prather had three singles and two RBI and worked the final four innings to earn the save. Och, Paull and Taylor all had multiple hits.

Gillette had two singles and a RBI to lead Weir. Anthony Early added a double.

Linsly is back in action on its home diamond today against debuting Cameron. The Red Riders are off until welcoming John Marshall on Saturday.