NEW MANCHESTER - The Golden Bears were down, but they were far from being out.
The Wheeling Park baseball team erupted for seven runs in the first two innings, but Oak Glen managed to silence the Patriots bats the rest of the way allowing their bats time to do plenty of damage Tuesday.
Oak Glen plated four runs in the bottom of the second inning to make the score 7-4, but did nothing else until the bottom of the seventh inning.
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ON THE HILL — Oak Glen’s Steve Barr throws a pitch during Tuesday’s win over Wheeling Park. Barr hit a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the seventh inning to complete the Golden Bears’ come-from-behind 8-7 win Tuesday.
-- Aaron Petchal
With one out, the bases loaded and two runs already across the plate, Steve Barr doubled to the gap in right-center scoring a pair, capping an improbable rally as the Golden Bears stunned the Patriots, 8-7.
"That is a big win for us, a big, big win," Oak Glen (11-9) head coach Lou Nagy said. "It's the first time since I have been coaching that we have beat them.
"I can't say enough about Tyler Steed. He came in and shut them down.
"We got some big hits. I don't know what else to say. I'm excited. I feel good for the boys."
Nagy said he has not had a team rally from seven runs down to come back and win a game.
"Teams before would turn tail and run," he said. "We would kind of fold, but these guys fought back. Steve wasn't on his game tonight, and Tyler came in and shut them down. Matt McLaughlin stepped up with a big hit. I just can't say enough about them."
Steed picked up the win in relief of Barr. Steed struck out five, walked two and allowed no runs on three hits in his four innings of work. Barr pitched the first three innings. He struck out two, walked five and he allowed seven runs on three hits.
Offensively, the Golden Bears produced 10 hits. Eight of the hits went for extra bases.
Barr recorded three triples and three RBIs to lead the way. Also, Bub Haddox and Steed each delivered a double and two RBIs, Jeff Hissam finished with a double and an RBI and McLaughlin ended up with a double.
"The last couple of games the hitting has been coming along," Nagy said. "We hit the ball real well last Friday down at Clay-Battelle. We have had a lot of firsts this year. It was the first time we beat Magnolia."
Ethan Jacobs took the loss for the Patriots. Jacobs recorded just one out while allowing four runs on three hits. He did not record a strikeout while walking two.
Oak Glen has 11 wins on the season, and the 11th was the most dramatic of the bunch.
"That is another first," Nagy said. We have never been .500 or better this far into the season. First part of the season we might have been 2-0 or 2-1, but never now, never at this part of the season.
"It's going as planned - knock on wood."
Oak Glen plays today at Harrison Central, Friday at John Marshall and Saturday at Ritchie County.
"We are going to stir some things up," Nagy said.
Oak Glen 8, Wheeling Park 7
Wheeling Park 520 000 0 - 7 8 3
Oak Glen 040 000 4 - 8 9 1
WHEELING PARK: Kowalo (3K, 0BB), Brooks (4, 3K, 0BB), Jacobs (LP, 7, 0K, 2BB) and Pyle; Pyle S, D, 2rbi; Jacobs S, D; Kowalo S, D.
OAK GLEN: Barr (2K, 5BB), Steed (4, 5K, 2BB) and Smith; Barr 3D, 3rbi; Haddox D, 2rbi; Steed D, 2rbi; Hissam D, rbi; McLaughlin D; Crago S; Engleheart S.
