Photo by Cody Nespor Wheeling catcher Jack Selmon, right, tags out Parkersburg baserunner Bentley Kinzer at home plate during Post 1's game against Parkersburg Post 15 Tuesday.

ELM GROVE — Wheeling Post 1’s offense managed just one hit in the middle innings and Eli Reeves struck out seven in a complete game effort as Parkersburg Post 15 bagged a 7-3 win at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Sports Complex Tuesday afternoon.

Post 1 (12-7) produced just one hit between the first and seventh innings and hit into three double plays in that same span.

“The message after the game was just about our toughness,” manager Jon-Michael Brunner said after the game. “It’s always easy to do the right things when things are going your way, doing the right thing all the time is tough.”

After matching Parkersburg with three runs in the bottom of the first, Wheeling’s offense went ice cold until a brief rally in the seventh produced a run.

“They’ve really got to bear down with two strikes and battle,” Bruner said of his team. “Parkersburg battled them out and that’s what we’ve got to start doing.”

Post 15 scored four of its seven runs with two outs, including run-producing two-out hits by Dylan Holliday, Brodie Wiggins and Drew Woofter.

Wheeling’s Luke Myers recovered from an inauspicious start on the mound to turn in five innings of work. He allowed five runs with two strikeouts and three walks.

“He did an okay job once he settled in,” Burner said. “Parkersburg hit seemingly everything on the barrel (Tuesday), there weren’t many pitches we kept them off balance with.”

Parkersburg started the game with four consecutive hits off of Myers in the top of the first inning.

A relay throw from right fielder Zach Taylor to catcher Jack Selmon nailed a Parkersburg runner at the plate for the first out of the game. Following a pop out, Holliday singled home a run to give the visitor’s a three-run lead.

Post 1 responded in the bottom of the frame, albeit in unconventional fashion. Taylor and Dylan Gongola both reached base with one out but a ground ball from Michael Toepfer that seemed destined to find right field hit Gongola in the base paths. Gongola was called out on interference as Taylor stayed at second and Toepfer took first.

Alex Taylor moved everyone up one station with a bunt single that loaded the bases. Following RBIs by Jack Scouvart and Nate Simon, Selmon came up to bat with the bases still loaded and two outs.

During his plate appearance, Parkersburg’s catcher inadvertently hit Selmon in the helmet while trying to throw the ball back to the pitcher. The ball caromed into foul ground, allowing Alex Taylor to scamper home and score the tying run. Selmon eventually struck out to end the inning.

That’s when the Wheeling offense all but disappeared. Post 1 hit into double plays in the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Reeves did it all for Post 15. He threw all seven innings of the mound, striking out seven while scattering five hits and three walks. At the plate, he collected a single, double and drove in two runs. Holliday also drove in two for the victors.

“I hope our guys can learn from this,” Brunner said. “We’re going to face Parkersburg again, they’re in our area. If we’re going to make it to the state (tournament), we have to get through them.”

Post 1 will play seven games in four days to end the week with the Beat of the East tournament starting Thursday. Wheeling will play doubleheaders at I-470 Thursday, Friday and Saturday with one final game Sunday.