Photo by Cody Tomer Wheeling Post 1 catcher Jack Selmon, left, tags out Lakewood runner Jameson Supinski during Friday night’s game at the I-470 ballfields.

WHEELING — Halfway home.

After the first two days of the 34th Annual Edgar Martin Beast of the East Classic, Wheeling Post 1 sits with a spotless 4-0 record.

On Friday, Wheeling defeated Hiland 11-4 in a “Texas Shootout” where each team starts with a runner on second base and a full count entering extra innings. Roughly 30 minutes later, Post 1 played its second game, a 7-2 win over the Lakewood Rangers 18U squad at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex.

Post 1 drew five bases loaded walks in the shootout, while Jared Marsh delivered a RBI single and Alex Taylor added a RBI sacrifice fly in a seven-run ninth inning in the first game.

Dylan Gongola earned the win after a strong performance from Braydon Kupsky.

With a quick turnaround, Post 1 looked completely unfazed with three runs in the opening stanza and never looked back.

“We just told them that it’s almost like we needed to have that shootout,” Post 1 manager Jon-Michael Brunner said. “We’ve talked all year about two-strike hitting and guys hitting with runners in scoring position. It was nice that the guys were able to fight through that and battle.”

Gage Thomas came through strongly on the hill with seven strikeouts in six innings of work in the nightcap, before Xavier Fankhouser finished the last two innings with a pair of punchouts.

“Gage has been working with coach Dustin Henry,” Brunner said. “He wanted one more start and I was so happy for him to come out and throw strikes. The kids rallied behind him. He didn’t have to do that since he’s in college but he wanted to come here and pitch one more time with these guys. It’s nice to have him because he’s such a nice kid and he has such a great family. He did great.”

At the plate, Thomas and Fankhouser held Lakewood to just four hits, while the Post 1 offense supplied 10 knocks.

Taylor led the way with three hits and two RBI, while Gongola pounded two doubles for three RBI. Jack Scouvart also provided a single, a double and a RBI.

The scoring in the nightcap began after a walk and an error put two on base for Gongola who ripped a two-run double to give his squad the upper hand.

Taylor followed with a RBI single for a 3-0 cushion.

In the bottom of the fourth, it was Zac Taylor’s turn as he delivered a two-strike RBI sac-fly to left to create a 4-0 Post 1 advantage.

Lakewood didn’t go down silently as Tanner Costantine blistered a RBI double past a diving center fielder to cut the deficit to 4-1.

Lakewood pocketed its second run in the sixth on a throwing error by Wheeling but Post 1 came back with three runs in the bottom of the frame as Gongola blasted a RBI double down the third base line, Alex Taylor garnered a RBI single and Scouvart tallied another RBI single to put the icing on the cake.

“All four of the teams we’ve played have been good,” Brunner said. “Our goal is still that last week of July but if we stick with the program and this is just a stepping stone, then our peak is even higher than this. We’re excited to keep the guys moving. They have a lot of confidence up there right now offensively and defensively. It looks good going into (Saturday).”

Luke Jablonowski tossed five innings for Lakewood with three strikeouts before Simon Gilchrist came on in relief with a punchout.

“That was a really good team that we played,” Lakewood skipper Brian Ivinskas said. “Our starter Luke Jablonowski pitched well and kept us in it and made it a fun game. That’s why we came down here from Lakewood, OH., to play teams like this.

“The Beast of the East has been fantastic. We are staying in the dorms at West Liberty and they’ve been treating us great. We recommend it because we’ve had a lot of fun.”

Both teams are back in action today at the I-470 field as Lakewood begins the day with back-to-back games against the TCT Kings and Armory Baseball at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Post 1 will follow with back-to-back games at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. against Bruisers Baseball and Armory Baseball.