Staff Writer



In a road-tested week, the Wildcats did remarkably well, going 5-1 on the week with five wins in a row and scoring 10-plus runs in each of those games after a 1-10 loss to Linsly.

In Wheeling, Paden City played a much closer game than the box score indicated. They had bases loaded opportunities in the second and fourth innings, but were only able to score one run from those chances.

That run came in the second inning as Chris Loy walked with the bases loaded to force Malakai Anderson to trot home. Zach Yost had a chance to score just before that, but was thrown out at the plate.

The missed opportunities hurt because they put the ‘Cats down early. If they would have converted at the plate, the momentum would have been in their favor as they shut down the Cadets in the middle innings.

Coty Meadows had two singles. Wes Cosper, Malakai Anderson, Justin Grimes, Chris Loy and Chaz Heasley all had singles as well.

Linsly scored one in the first inning and four in the second. In the fifth and sixth, they scored two and three runs to put the game out of reach.

At Hundred, the Wildcats received quite a workout as they circled the base paths 23 times while getting one step closer to securing the top seed in the sectional tournament. The Hornets scored a few runs of their own, 13 to be exact, but it was spread to thin compared to Paden City’s firepower.

The scoring started early too as Wes Cosper lead off with a solo inside-the-park home run.

After scoring six runs in the top of the third, aided by a two-run home run by Justin Grimes, Coach Brent Croasmun’s baseball club was sitting pretty at 8-1. However, two runs in the bottom of the third and three in the bottom of the fourth after limiting Paden City to their only scoreless inning made it an 8-6 game. The Wildcats returned the favor in the fifth, scoring three of their own and shutting down the Hornets.

In the sixth inning, the ‘Cats continued their success plating four runners. Despite the momentum clearly in their favor, Hundred still kept pressuring with three runs in the bottom frame.

Paden City put the game away easily with eight runs in the top of the seventh. Trying to make the score more respectable, the Hornets rounded the bases four times to set the final score up at 23-13.

In addition to Cosper’s homer, he had three more hits and was a triple shy of a cycle which resulted in six RBIs. Coty Meadows went 2-6 with a double and three RBIs while Coty Beaver nearly matched him with a hit and three RBIs. Grimes’ home run resulted in his two RBIs. Ryan Thoburn also did well at the plate, going 3-6 with a run batted it.

Chaz Heasley took to the mound for the ‘Cats and pitched the first four innings with three strikeouts. Thoburn came on in relief to get the save with three innings pitched and seven strikeouts.

Both teams had 14 hits. Six errors by Hundred aided Paden City, who made four errors of their own.

On Thursday, the ‘Cats crossed the river to Beallsville to take on the Blue Devils. Once again Paden City’s bats came alive and pounded out 14 hits in a big win that went seven innings. The Devils were looking for their second win of the season, and took an early 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second after tying the ‘Cats two runs in the first.

After a scoreless third, the flood gates opened as Paden City easily batted around the order en route to plating an amazing 10 runs. Beallsville answered with three in the bottom frame, but Paden City scored two in each of the next two innings to put the game away. The Blue Devils scored two in the bottom of the sixth to avoid the mercy rule.

Meadows started off the evening well with a home run in the first inning. He finished 2-5 with two RBIs. Thoburn raced around on his one hit for a triple and had two RBIs for the day.

Heasley went 2-4 with a double and had four RBIs. Wright and Beaver each had two hits and two RBIs. Grimes went 1-5 and batted in two runs as well.

Anderson took the hill against the Devils and threw a complete game with 12 strikeouts and walking only one. He helped his own cause by going 2-3 with a double and an RBI.

The ‘Cats improved to 12-4 after sweeping Bellaire St. Johns in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Better yet, Thoburn was apart of his second no-hitter of the season as he went five innings.

He was credited for a complete game after the offense trickled over the 10-run mark in the top of the fifth when Meadows launched a ball over the left field fence. He finished 2-3 with a double as well.

Paden City added another run later in the inning to make it 11-0. They scored two runs in the first to get things going before pressuring the Irish with three runs in each of the last three innings. Grimes had a big game as well at the plate, going 2-4 with three RBIs. Heasley batted in a run and both Anderson and Loy reached on a double.

Thoburn’s nearly perfect no-hitter included seven strikeouts and only two bases on balls. Defensively the team was credited with one error.

“He had a pretty good fast ball going there,” said Croasmun. “He needs to improve the curve ball a little bit, but he was in control the whole game. He stayed ahead in the count. He was able to throw the pitches he wanted to and was in complete control of that game from top to finish.”

In the windy nightcap, St. Johns put a little more pressure on the Wildcats than they did in the first game as they were in search of their first win. They were able to match Paden City’s two runs in the first inning and held them scoreless for the next three.

In the bottom of the fourth, St. Johns threatened as they loaded the bases, but starting pitcher Josh Bennett was able to work out of the jam.

He would receive some much needed run support in the top of the fifth. Paden City scored four runs to break the game open. However St. Johns wouldn’t quit and proceeded to score a single run in innings five and six to make it a two-run game going into the final frame.

Thoburn came back for more in relief and stymied the Irish batters striking out three more in two innings. He was credited with the save. Bennett finished with five innings pitched with three strikeouts in the win.

Paden City broke the game open again, this time with a five run inning, ending any threat of a come-from-behind victory and taking the game 11-4 and keeping their string of scoring double-digit runs alive with. Coincidentally, they have won every game in that string which totals four games.

Cosper had a big game going 4-5 with a triple and an RBI. Anderson, Grimes and Heasley made a nice trifurcate hitting machine as each went 2-4 with two RBIs. Thoburn also received a hit and an RBI.

The Wildcats made it five in a row Monday evening after a game against the in-region Bishop Donahue Bishops.

The McMechen-based team gave Paden City a threat in the second inning as they tied the game at three, but the ‘Cats firepower was just too much and rolled to a 10-3. The win continues the teams streak of scoring runs in the double-digits. Every time they have reached the plateau of 10 or more this season, they have been victorious.

“We’ve been giving up about three runs a game and scoring about eight or nine on average,” said Croasmun.

They almost reached it in the first half of the game. After the three scored in the first, six more runs followed in the next two frames including four in the third.

Anderson took to the mound well as he threw a complete game, striking out six and increasing the teams’ record to 13-4 after he was credited with the win.

“I think the advantage we have most of the time is that we have experienced players that have played for a while,” said Croasmun on his team’s success this season. Our seniors have played for four years and our juniors have played for three years. That’s probably one of the biggest advantages over most other teams we’re playing is that we have more experienced kids out there.”

Offensively the team was well-rounded once again. Loy and Beaver both went 2-3 and shared three RBIs. Anderson was right behind them going 2-4 with two RBIs. Cosper tallied two RBIs and a hit. Thoburn had a hit and an RBI.

“We’re hitting the ball real well right now,” Croasmun stated on his team’s offense. “We have a couple guys that struggle a little bit, but I’ve said this before. It seems like everybody in the lineup is contributing. If someone isn’t contributing, somebody else is. When you have all nine guys contributing at the plate, you’re going to score a lot of runs.”

This week, Paden City faces another tough schedule playing six games. They play two at home before traveling to Bridgeport, Ohio for an invitational doubleheader. The long week is nothing lost on Croasmun’s mind.

“We’ve got six more games to go this week. I just hope my pitchers hold out.”