Photo by Cody Tomer Wheeling Park’s Will James slides into home plate during an 8-4 win over Brooke Friday.

WELLSBURG — Not only was Wheeling Park coach Steve Myers happy about his team’s 8-4 triumph on the road over rival Brooke on Friday, but he was just glad to see his team play on consecutive days.

With all the rain, wind and snow that has wreaked havoc on the 2022 season, the sun finally shined down on the diamond below and Wheeling Park shined in its OVAC semifinal tuneup.

“We finally got to play two days in a row,” Myers said with a laugh. “It’s a nice feeling for our guys to get some reps. We’re excited about (Saturday) for a chance to compete in the OVAC Tournament. We did the things we had to do and had some good pitching. Nick Tsoras came out of the bullpen and did an excellent job. We haven’t had a lot of chances to throw some guys so it’s good that we are now getting guys some work.”

With the score deadlocked at 1-1 in the third, Park catcher Luke Marsh, who made several diving grabs on pop ups behind the plate, delivered a clutch two-run double to give the Patriots a 3-1 upper hand.

Marsh delivered again in the fourth with another two-run double, which put the Patriots ahead 6-2.

“Sometimes catchers get overlooked for how much they do defensively,” Myers said. “He shines on defense but he also has a very good stick and a very good approach at the plate. He does so many little things well that everybody may not realize. He is our leader and he is having an excellent season so far.”

Park struck first in the game as Grant Simons collected a RBI single to plate teammate Daniel Crumm, who had two doubles in the game.

Brooke answered quickly in the second as Charlie Fuscardo belted a solo home run over the left field fence. Fuscardo also had a tremendous throw from left field to catch a runner at the plate later in the game.

“I think we did good at the plate and we had good approaches, too,” Brooke coach C.J. Besece said. “Charlie threw a kid out at home and that kept us in the game. We were in striking distance the whole time.”

Following Marsh’s two-run double in the third, Gian DeGenova came through with a RBI knock to create a 4-1 Park cushion.

Back came the Bruins.

Braelynn Sperringer garnered a RBI double in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit in half at 4-2.

However, Park made it a 7-2 advantage with its second straight 3-run inning sparked by Marsh’s second two-run double and a wild pitch that scored Will James from third.

Brooke actually scored a run in four straight innings as Gavin Moore’s RBI single and an error cut the deficit to 7-4, before Crumm’s RBI sac-fly gave Park the 8-4 triumph.

“Park is a good program,” Besece said. “They are No. 1 in the OVAC for a reason. We bounced back and tried chipping away though. Our guys did a good job of not putting their heads down. Henry Anderson came in at the end and settled down and through a lot of strikes. He has good velocity for a 14-year old freshman. I thought he pitched really well in a rivalry game. That was our bright spot in the game.”

Alex Jezierski turned in two doubles for Brooke.

All-state standout shortstop Michael Bittinger finished with a single and a double for Park.

“We had 10 hits,” Myers said. “That is a good day any day. We made good adjustments and it was a good day at the plate.”

Quinn Jamison earned the win with three strikeouts and one walk, while the loss went to Owen Petrella, who finished with a punch out and four free passes.