MORGANTOWN – Two games into the season and the University High School baseball team was facing an identity crisis.
Were the Hawks the team that pounded out a 13-1 opening day win over John Marshall, or the team that managed just one hit in a 10-0 mercy-rule-shortened contest against rival Morgantown?
After Wednesday’s 4-3 win over Wheeling Park, the answer likely lies somewhere in between.
“I think we are capable of playing with and beating anybody on any given night,” second-year head coach Brad Comport said. “I’d like to think that our team is one that is going to compete and give it everything they have night in and night out. I’m really happy with how we responded (Wednesday). Especially after (the loss to MHS) and I would like to think that today’s UHS team is the team that we are that is going to battle and compete.”
The contest certainly didn’t start out well for the Hawks (2-1) as the Patriots put two runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Jared Marsh led off the game with a bunt single, stole second, and eventually scored when Nate Bittinger reached base on an error. WP added another run when Bittinger rounded the bases without the ball being put in play thanks to a wild pitch and two passed balls.
However, instead of falling deeper into a hole, UHS managed to stop the bleeding and respond in the bottom of the first.
Jake Croston hit an RBI single that scored Wenkai Campbell and then Gabe Jansen added an RBI fielder’s choice to tie the game at 2-2.
“We were able to answer back,” Comport said. “That was big. Then we were able to extend our lead after that and I think that was important. We were a lot more aggressive at the plate and I think we swung at better pitches and putting the ball in play helped us tremendously.”
UHS grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning when Jansen led off the inning with a double and then scored later in the frame on a two-out single to left field by No. 8 hitter Park Croyle.
“I think our lineup one through nine is really deep,” Croyle said. “I feel like anyone can hit the ball and everyone can be a leadoff hitter or a three hitter.”
The Hawks manufactured a run in the sixth inning to take a 4-2 lead when Jansen reached base on an error and later scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Chase Edwards. UHS scored the run without registering a hit in the sixth thanks to three errors from the Patriots (1-1).
Wheeling Park did score a run in the seventh when Marsh scored on a fielder’s choice from Braydon Kupsky but some slick fielding from the UHS middle infield of Edwards and Jett Walters helped the Hawks hold on for the victory.
Sophomore Logan Vance (1-0) picked up the victory as he tossed four innings with three strikeouts and just three hits allowed. Thomas made the save in three innings of work.
“I’m just trying to control what I can control out there,” Vance said. “I wanted to attack the zone and get ahead in the count.”
University returns to action today when it hosts Parkersburg South at 5 p.m.
By ERIC HERTER
WP 200 000 1 – 3 6 3
UHS 200 101 X – 4 3 2
WP – Marsh 4 2 0 0, Bittinger 4 1 1 0, Kupsky 4 0 0 1, DeGenova 4 0 1 0, Conrad 3 0 1 0, Simons 3 0 1 0, Jamison 1 0 0 0, Simon 3 0 0 0, Nardone 2 0 1 0. Total: 27 3 6 1.
UHS – Campbell 3 1 0 0, Templeton 3 0 0 0, Braham 1 1 0 0, Croston 3 0 1 1, Jansen 3 2 1 1, Thomas 1 0 0 0, Latocha 2 0 0 0, Croyle 3 0 1 1, Edwards 2 0 0 1. Total: 21 4 3 4.
2B – UHS: Jansen.
WP – Vance (1-0) 4ip 3h 2r 0er 3bb 3k
LP – DeGenova 4ip 2h 3r 3er 3bb 2k
S – Thomas (1) 3ip 3h 1r 1er 0bb 1k
TWEET @DomPostSports
