Wheeling Takes Opener Against Maynard

Kim North

MAYNARD - If Maynard is to claim a fourth consecutive Ohio Valley Baseball League championship, it will have to do so from behind.

Second-seeded Wheeling (11-8) continued its mastery over the No. 3 Indians this summer with a 5-4 win Wednesday night in Game 1 of their best-of-3 semifinal series on Firemen's Field inside the rainy and windy Community Park. That gives the Cardinals four wins in six meetings this season.

The matchup is also a rematch of the past two championship series that Maynard had earned back-to-back sweeps in.

"We seem to play our best baseball this time of the year," Wheeling manager Scott Shaw said. "They have been a thorn in our side, but we managed to beat them three out of five in the regular season, so we know we can beat them."

Logan Bennett held the Indians (10-9) to one run on four hits through five innings. However, he tired in the sixth when the designated visitors scored three runs to cut the deficit to the final margin at 5-4.

"I feel like they were lucky to get out of here with a win tonight," Maynard player/manager David Vicker said. "Things were starting to turn our way, but it's unfortunate it came so late."

Bennett, an East Liverpool product who pitched at Bethany College, struck out seven and walked two. He departed after yielding a leadoff walk to Mason Ramsay, a double by Tyler Tonkavich and a two-run single by Ryan Florence.

Former Wheeling Park standout and current Fairmont State product Dylan Gongola came on in relief. He fanned the first hitter he faced but then gave up a single to Rhys Francis and an RBI single to Matt Busby before striking out the next two batters to end the rally.

"Staying ahead in the count by getting that first-pitch strike," Bennett said of the key to his outing. "I worked my two-seam (fastball in) and my cutter away."

Gongola retired the side in the seventh to preserve the narrow victory.

Wheeling built leads of 1-0 in the second; 3-0 in the third and 5-0 in the fourth.

Michael Toepfer's sacrifice fly drove in Gongola to make it 1-0. Tyler Haskins' single made it 2-0 and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Josh Schramm bumped the count to 3-0. Sonny Peluchette singled in a run in the fifth and another scored on one of two Maynard errors.

Maynard's run in the fifth was unearned as a pair of errors allowed Busby to score.

The Indians were denied a scoring opportunity in the fourth when Gongola, playing third, snagged a sharp one-hopper with runners on first and second and two out. He stepped on third to snuff out that threat.

Jared Jones, Peluchette and Haskins all had two singles each for Wheeling.

Mackenzie Koehler took the loss. He fanned two, walked a pair and surrendered 10 hits - all singles.

Game 2 is set for Friday at 6 back in Maynard with the Indians serving as hosts. If the Indians prevail, Game 3 would be at the J.B. Chambers I-470 ballfields on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Barton 5, Moundsville 2

CRESCENT - The top-seeded Braves (13-6) are a win away from the finals after their victory over the visiting Expos Wednesday in Game 1 of their best-of-3 semifinal series on Henning Field inside Pramesa Park.

Game 2 is Friday night at the John Marshall High School diamond in Glen Dale. Should the Expos win, Game 3 would be Sunday back in Crescent at 1 p.m.

Gavyn Romanyak went the distance for Barton, striking out one, walking one and scattering four hits.

Zach Smith had a two-run double for the Braves while Kaden Blomquist singled and doubled. Zac Taylor had an RBI single.

Jake Stoner singled twice and drove in a run for Moundsville. Russ Scheertfeger had a double.

Greyson Loweecy struck out nine and walked one in a losing effort. He yielded five hits.