Photo by Cody Tomer Wheeling Park’s Michael Bittinger, left, smacks a ball down the third base line as JM catcher, Dillon Wright looks on.

By BUBBA KAPRAL

For The Intelligencer

WHEELING — Quality pitching, solid defense and timely hitting. Wheeling Park exhibited all three Tuesday afternoon. As a result, the Patriots pocketed a 5-1 win over John Marshall in a Class AAA Region I, Section I opener.

The win propels the second-seeded Patriots into a road matchup against top-seeded Morgantown today. The Mohigans advanced by topping Brooke.

The Monarchs, meanwhile, will welcome the Bruins today in an elimination contest.

Junior Gian Degenova and senior Daniel Crumm combined to limit John Marshall to five hits while supported by an error-free defense. Degenova worked into the sixth inning, striking out five and walking just one. Crumm was sharp in relief, fanning one and walking none.

“Gian and Daniel pitched very effectively. It was a well-pitched game by both teams,”

Wheeling Park head coach Steve Myers noted. “Our motto is pitching, defense and timely hitting.

“There are no secrets about that in baseball.

“We did all three phases well. We made some nice plays in the field and got enough hitting, especially late,” he added. “John Marshall played a good game. It was an enjoyable game to watch.”

Park tallied its first run in the third inning.

Junior Quinn Jamison reached on an error, advanced on a wild pitch and came home on an RBI groundout off the bat of all-stater Michael Bittinger.

The Patriots stretched their advantage to 3-0 in the fifth.

With one out, Bittinger slammed a double. Luke Marsh drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before coming home via a Degenova double.

John Marshall pushed across its lone run in the sixth. Catcher Dillon Wright slammed a double down the leftfield line. He scored on an RBI single by Ethan Neely.

Park added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.

Grants Simons reached on an error. Nick Tsoras was beaned. Simons came home on an error while Bittinger singled in Tsoras.

Park improved to 11-8. John Marshall, meanwhile, dropped to 11-14.

Jake Korngiver started on the hill for the Monarchs. The craft southpaw acquitted himself quite nicely despite absorbing the loss. He surrendered just two hits before exiting in the fifth. Junior Jacob Coffield closed for the visitors. The duo limited the Patriots to just five hits.

“They (Park) pitched very well, but so did we. We didn’t put the bat on the ball very well for the first four innings,” John Marshall head coach Mark Cisar said. “We never put any pressure on them. We made it too easy for them.

“We had our chances but we left them off the hook,” added the former Magnolia High athletic great. “We made too many miscues. We made them in the field and on the bases.”

John Marshall committed four errors and stranded six baserunners.

Wheeling Park and Morgantown are no strangers. The Patriots downed the Mohigans in the season opener before falling to them in the OVAC 5A championship tilt.

“We know each other well. It should be a good one,” Myers said.

Bittinger and Degenova were the lone Patriots to get two hits.