The West Geauga baseball team broke open a tight game with a three-run fourth inning and held off a late rally to defeat visiting Wickliffe baseball, 5-3, in nonconference action Wednesday.
The Wolverines improved to 14-5 overall with the victory, while Wickliffe fell to 6-9.
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Mitchell Mikolay gave the Wolverines exactly what they needed on the mound, working six innings while allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts.
West Geauga wasted little time getting on the board in the first inning.
Luke Ottman led off with a single and moved to third on Jackson Remaley‘s double. After Tyler Fink was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out, Wickliffe pitcher Gio Moppins nearly escaped trouble with a strikeout and flyout. But Evan Sustin lined an RBI single to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead before Moppins ended the inning with another strikeout.
Wickliffe answered in the second.
Cole Vanatta singled with one out, and Dominic Porcello followed with another hit. Mark Kish then delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
The Wolverines regained control in the fourth inning.
Sustin drew a leadoff walk, and Austin Kanieski dropped down a bunt single. After a strikeout, Vinnie Vecchio was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ottman then worked a bases-loaded walk to force in a run before another run scored on Remaley’s fielder’s choice, pushing the lead to 4-1.
West Geauga added another insurance run in the fifth.
Colton Milnar singled, and Anthony Kreischer entered as a pinch runner. Kreischer stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sustin before Kanieski delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-1.
Wickliffe mounted one final push in the seventh.
Frankie Bucar and Blake Ludvik both walked before Max Andrasak singled to load the bases with two outs. Vanatta followed with an RBI single to bring the Blue Devils within 5-3 and chase Cooper Vosicky from the mound.
Ottman entered in relief and issued a walk to load the bases before recording the game-ending flyout for the save.
Vanatta led Wickliffe offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Andrasak also had two hits for the Blue Devils.
Kanieski paced West Geauga at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Ottman, Remaley, Sustin, Milnar, and Vecchio each added hits in the win.
Moppins struck out seven over six innings for Wickliffe despite taking the loss.
West Geauga returns to action Thursday at home against Perry, while Wickliffe travels to Rootstown.
Top Players
- Luke Ottman (West Geauga): 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 walk, save
- Mitchell Mikolay (West Geauga): Win, 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K
- Austin Kanieski (West Geauga): 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 run
- Evan Sustin (West Geauga): 1-for-1, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 walk
- Cole Vanatta (Wickliffe): 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run
- Max Andrasak (Wickliffe): 2-for-4
