Patriots Fall To Spring Valley
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By CODY NESPOR
Sports Writer
WHEELING -- The Wheeling Park baseball team did not get the result they wanted Thursday, but the Patriots did learn an important lesson in the process.
Wheeling Park (6-3) fell down 9-0 to visiting Spring Valley in the third inning in Thursday's game but did not give up, avoiding a mercy-rule ending to play all seven innings and eventually plating a couple of runs in the bottom of the ninth.
"It says a lot about our players that they competed all the way through," Park coach Steve Myers said of the 9-2 loss. "Things weren't going their way early, but they settled down and kept playing. I think we had better at bats as the game went on and it's definitely something to build on."
The Timberwolves (14-6) opened up their large lead with a six-run top of the third in which they sent 11 batters to the plate and hit four singles and two doubles. Park starter Dylan Hodgson was chased after 2 1/3 innings, at which point the Patriots already trailed by five.
"They earned them, they're a good-hitting ballclub," Myers said. "They made adjustments, got some hits and put some runs on the board."
Reliever Luke Myers allowed two more runs to score in the third and another two in the top of the fourth, but otherwise pitched effectively out of the bullpen.
He allowed just one single over the final three innings of play.
On the other side, Park's offense was shut down by SV starting pitcher Branson McCloud. The southpaw struck out nine patriots and allowed just one baserunner to reach second base through the first six innings.
"That's probably the best pitcher we've faced this year by far," Myers said. "He had a good fastball and was able to spot up his curveball. That's a good, quality pitcher for sure."
McCloud scattered five hits, all singles, across the first six innings before Park was finally able to break through in the bottom of the seventh.
Braydon Kupsky and Grant Simons reached on back-to-back singles and following a flyout to centerfield, were driven in on consecutive RBI knocks by Jared Marsh and Michael Bittinger.
"I think there's a lot to be said about that," Myers said. "Our guys just kept playing, kept competing and got better as the game went on. I think it says a lot about the players that they kept competing and stayed composed all the way to the end."
While disappointed about the loss, Myers said there were a lot of positives to take away from the game.
"These are the teams that you need to play to become better," he said. "Obviously we're not happy with the outcome, but it's a good game for us."
While Marsh and Bittinger drove in runs for Park, Gian Degenova was the lone Patriot to record multiple hits, finishing with two singles.
McCloud not only hurt WP on the mound, but also roped two doubles and a single and drove in three runs at the plate. Sammy Booth and Jamison Smith also had multiple RBI for the victors.
Wheeling Park is back in action today with a road tilt against Brooke. The Patriots will then host an OVAC semifinal game against University on Saturday.