Mar 20, 2025
photo by: Nick Henthorn
Wheeling Park’s Noah Short dives into third base for a triple on Wednesday during the Patriots’ 12-2 season-opening win against University. Short had a single, double and triple in the game.
WHEELING – The Wheeling Park Patriots and University Hawks were off and running into a new baseball season Wednesday, with the season opener’s first step going in the Hawks’ favor before the Patriots took the baton and sprinted the rest of the way, turning an 0-2 first-inning deficit into an eventual 12-2 run-rule victory on Patriot Field.
The Patriots scored six runs in the fifth inning to crack open the game, with three RBI doubles highlighting the frame. Park catcher Nolan Yanchak rocked a two-run double to the left field fence on his way to a four-RBI day as perhaps the biggest swing of the inning.
Noah Short and Ryland Robb each had three RBI, and the Patriots had six extra-base hits in the game. Wheeling Park head coach Steve Myers is looking forward to seeing what his offense can do throughout the season.
“They’ve been working really hard,” Myers said. “It’s a good group of kids that really puts the work in, cares about each other and plays together.”
University junior Max Cash began his season at the plate in the best possible fashion, with a home run that drove in Daniel Grabo to quickly put the Hawks ahead in the new year.
University would only tally three more hits the rest of the way though, as Wheeling Park climbed back in it, scoring runs in the second and fourth innings to tie the game before their big fifth frame.
“It’s something we went over this preseason- baseball is a game of seven innings,” University head coach Travis Renner said. “We’ve got to play a full seven innings. Our guys showed up today prepared, ready to go. We had good pitching, we had quality at-bats, and after we shot off that two-spot in the first, we got a little complacent.
“We got comfortable in the dugout, we got comfortable in the field, and then we give up one run in the third and it looks like the wheels fell off. We’re missing bunt coverages, we’re missing signs. Those are things you see early in the season. We’ll clean it up and be ready to get back after it tomorrow.”
After giving up a couple runs in the first, Wheeling Park starter Kolten Whitmire recovered to pitch four more scoreless innings, the senior finishing with six strikeouts and the win on the mound.
“Keep playing,” Myers said, when asked how his team regrouped after the first. “It’s the first inning. Two runs, they earned them. Kolten did a great job of settling down after that, I think he just missed a pitch. He was in command the rest of the way.
“Good team effort. We started hitting the ball and it got a little contagious. Our guys stayed composed and went inning-by-inning, and then we had a big inning.”
James Bryner started the game for University, striking out four over four innings and surrendering two runs. Jacob Kennison was saddled with the loss for the Hawks.
An RBI from Short- his third hit of the day- triggered the run rule in the bottom of the sixth inning, the final score of a four-run inning.
Short was a home run shy of the cycle, the senior one of seven fourth-year players on the Patriots, which also includes cornerstones Nate Simon, Ryland Robb and Rocco Digiandomenico.
“Senior-led,” Myers said of his team. “But a good junior class, sophomore class, had a freshman in the lineup today. It’s a group who picks each other up and keeps playing.”
Freshman Jaxson Updegraff launched an RBI double, with Digiandomenico, Robb and Paul McGee responsible for the remainder of Park’s extra base hits, all doubles. The Patriots had 11 hits in total against University’s five. Coldiln Burkhart pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Whitmire.
Wheeling Park is back at home tomorrow against Brooke. University will ready for their home opener tomorrow vs. East Fairmont.
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