Photo by Nick Henthorn
Wheeling Central’s Matt Criniti connects with a pitch Tuesday on the St. Clairsville Jr. Sports Complex within the Knights’ Senior Day sport in opposition to Indian Creek.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Wheeling Central head coach Todd Cover has mentioned a number of instances that his senior class deserves loads of credit score for ascending the Maroon Knights baseball program to the place it’s now. Tuesday, on Central’s Senior Day sport in opposition to visiting Indian Creek, the Maroon despatched these seniors out with a triumphant 14-3 victory over Creek contained in the St. Clairsville Junior Sports Complex.
“This one’s pretty emotional,” Cover mentioned about Senior Day. “Obviously, one of them’s my son, but the other five guys I’ve coached for a long time. It’s a very, very important class to me. And not only that, I think when these guys came in– I think four or five of them have been playing since their freshman year. So they’re not only talented, good kids, great students. They do it the right way. It’s a great class to have and, you know, we needed to send them out right, which I think we did.”
Central’s seniors are Kade Koroneos, Brayden Cover, Steven Brodegard, Koy Lipinski, Matt Criniti, and Wyatt Brady.
In what was a matchup between current OVAC 3A champions (Central) and OVAC 4A runners-up (Creek), Indian Creek took an early 2-0 benefit after Adam Brothers and Luke McVicker every knocked in runs within the high of the primary, however Wheeling Central’s offense was overwhelming. The Knights scored one run within the first inning, then three extra within the second inning, earlier than plating 5 runs in each the third and fourth innings.
Leadoff man Jake Brown had a banner day, driving in a game-high 5 runs whereas singling and homering. His lengthy ball was a three-run shot within the second inning.
Brady Ernest additionally homered for Wheeling Central as a part of a two-hit day of his personal. His solo shot got here within the third inning, the place Clay Petry, Brayden Cover and Olen Ames all additionally drove in runners.
Ernest, Cover, Ames and Matt Criniti every completed with two RBI as Central completed with 11 hits as a workforce.
“We schedule teams like this to get us ready for tournament time,” Indian Creek head coach Mike Cottis mentioned. “Wasn’t the outcome, obviously, that we wanted today, but I thought we had some good at-bats against some good pitching. We just couldn’t hold their offense down. They got some guys that can swing it, that’s for sure.”
While Brown and Ernest every had large days, Cover appreciated his complete lineup’s efficiency.
“I feel the advantage of our lineup is, we knew we had eight individuals coming again, eight guys which have executed it earlier than or for a number of years. So it was discovering that ninth hitter, and, you already know, Matt has been good for us. OIen’s been good for us. You know, Trent [Lander]’s been good. So, I feel we’re beginning to come collectively now. We’re the place we are able to put a lineup on the market one by way of 9, anyone can do harm.
“Today it was the top of the lineup that did it, but that’s not to say the bottom lineup didn’t do anything because they got on base for them. To be a really good team and to be where we want to be, you have to be one through nine, and I think we’re getting to that point.”
Cover pitched into the fourth inning for Central, putting out three. Criniti took over in aid, pitching 1.1 innings and punching out one batter.
James Brothers and Adam Brothers every doubled for Indian Creek. Hunter Rusnak tripled. With 5 hits on the day, Creek had extra multi-base hits than singles.
Adam Brothers, Max Lane and Dom DeGruttola mixed on the mound for Creek.
Wheeling Central moved to 17-3 with the win. Indian Creek dropped to 16-4.
