photo by: Andrew Grimm

Wheeling Park's Alivia West awaits a pitch Tuesday during the Patriots' road game against Steubenville.

STEUBENVILLE — The Big Red softball team made the debut of their new coach a victorious one.

After falling behind Wheeling Park 2-0 in the top of the first, Steubenville scored the next nine runs on the way to a 12-5 victory over the Patriots at the Crimson Complex.

April Minniefield, who was making her debut as the head coach after several years as an assistant, did not have to wait very long to get to celebrate victory No. 1.

“It was nice to be on the field, get back to the routine,” Minniefield said. “Getting to be back out here coaching these girls is awesome. It’s good to start off with a victory. The girls did it, they got a victory and it’s just good to be able to watch these girls play again.

“It feels good to get the first win, it means a lot to me. it takes a lot of stress and pressure off. Now I’m just going to roll and hopefully get them to build upon it.”

Four players for Big Red had multiple hits and five different players recorded at least one RBI. Emily Tuttle had a double, two singles and two RBIs, Akron commit Sadie Edwards had a double, triple and three RBIs, Sophia Zorne tallied a triple, single and drove in two run, Addison Meyer had a pair of base knocks and Sagan Smarrella drove in a run with a base hit.

“I was a little nervous, Park started out really good, but I figured our girls would start hitting eventually and they did, they really picked it up,” Minniefield. Said.

Isabella Cadile struck out five and walked four in going the distance in the circle. Only three of the runs were earned.

Park struck first when Grace Tamburin grounded out and plated a run, then took a 2-0 lead with Harmony Bittner’s RBI single, both in the top of the first. Cadile, though, retired the next two batters, ending the inning with a punch out.

Smarrella then started the answer in the bottom half as she singled in a run, then after the next two batters got on base, Tuttle sent a fly ball to right and a throwing error allowed the tying run to cross. Riley Zorne then put the ball in play and another Park miscue put Big Red on top, 3-2.

“We had a tough game (Monday) night, and once we got down (Tuesday), it was tough to come back,” Wheeling Park head coach Patrick Durkin said. “Our defense, I think we had more errors in the first inning tonight than we did in the first four games combined. It’s tough when you make mistakes. But, we didn’t quit, we played the whole game. It’s still early in the season, we have a lot of softball left this week, we’ll be fine.”

In the third, Tuttle added to the lead with an RBI double, then another run scored on a groundout to make it 5-2. An inning later, Edwards ripped a bases-clearing triple to make it 8-2, then Sophia Zorne drove her in.

Park got a run closer in the fifth when Bittner plated a run with an RBI double, but in the bottom of the sixth, Steubenville added some insurance.

Sophia Zorne tripled to center and drove in Edwards, who had doubled and got to third on an error, then Tuttle’s RBI single brought Sophia Zorne home for an 11-3 lead. Pinch runner Briella Guntrum scored on a passed ball to make it 12-3.

In the seventh, Park put up some fight as A West put a ball into the outfield and it got past the outfielder, plating a run. Mikaylah Alderman then singled in another run, making it 12-7 with no one out.

Three of the next four batters, however, went down on fly outs to end the game.

Bittner fanned five and walked two while taking the loss in the circle for Park. She also had four hits and two RBIs at the plate.

UP NEXT

Wheeling Park: Travels to Brooke today to continue a busy week of six games in six days.

Big Red: Is right back at the Crimson Center today hosting Oak Glen.

Big Red 12, Wheeling Park 5

WP 2-0-0 0-1-0 2 — 5 9 4

BR 3-0-2 4-0-3 x — 12 11 5

WHEELING PARK (2-3): Bittner (LP, 6IP, 12R, 7ER, 11H, 5K, 2BB, 2HBP) and Cunningham. Bitter D, 3S, 2RBIs; Cunningham S; West S; Frankhouser 2S; Alderman S, RBI.

BIG RED (1-0): Cadile (WP, CG, 5R, 3ER, 9H, 5K, 4BB, 2HBP) and Smarrella. Tuttle D, 2S, 2RBIs; S. Zorne T, S, 2RBIs; Edwards T, D, 3RBIs; Smarrella S, RBI; R. Zorne S; Meyer 2S.