BELLAIRE — Both Bellaire head coach John Patrone and Shadyside head coach B.A. Holloway left their season-opening doubleheader feeling pretty good, but not great.

That’s the feeling most baseball coaches experience after a Sautrday afternoon split.

The Big Reds rolled in the opener, posting a 10-0 victory in five innings in the opening game, but the Tigers bounced back with a 7-4 victory in the second game.

IN THE OPENER, it was a grand return to the Bellaire dugout, after a two-year absence, for Patrone. His youthful Big Reds pounded out 10 hits, took advantage of five Shadyside errors and received solid pitching en route to a convincing 10-0 victory in the opener of a twinbill at the 26th Street Field complex.

“I couldn’t ask for more from the guys,” Patrone said. “We’ve been limited outside (during the pre-season) and had to use some of the time we did get outside as work days on the field. Toward the end of the week, our attitude was right and they came in this morning ready to go.”

They certainly were ready from the outset.

After Jerod Crawford pitched around a two-out single in the top of the first, Bellaire’s offense went to work.

The Big Reds struck six times in the opening frame, collecting five hits and capitalizing on two Shadyside miscues. Senior third baseman Brennon Conroy had a big hit in the inning with a RBI double. It was the first of three hits and three RBI in the game.

Thor Duffy also had a two-run single, while Mason Ramsay, Cole Runyan and Cole Porter all singled in a run in the inning.

“We had some opportunities with some errors and we ran the bases hard to capitalize,” Patrone said. “We swung the bats well and were patient at the plate. We still have things to work out, but overall, I am happy.”

Bellaire added a single run in the second and three in the third. Conroy drove in the ninth and 10th runs of the game with a bloop single into shallow right, which brought Porter and Jakob Jarvis home.

That was plenty for Crawford, who worked four strong. He struggled with his command at times as evidenced by five walks and a hit batsman. However, he allowed only three hits and made pitches when he needed to, working out of bases-loaded jams in both the third and fourth innings. On top of that, the Big Reds played error-free baseball.

“We have a young team and I expect some bumps and bruises early, but I have confidence in our guys that we’ll be alright,” Holloway said. “The 6-0 deficit wasn’t an ideal start, but we didn’t get any timely hits and left too many guys on base. And we made five errors, but a lot of that might have been nerves for some young kids.”

All told, Shadyside, which had just three singles, stranded eight runners.

IN THE SECOND GAME, the Tigers settled down after watching Bellaire strike for two runs in the first inning by responding with five of their own in the top of the second.

Junior Josh Zandron earned the mound win. He worked six innings with six strikeouts and just one walk. Billy Johnson had a single, double and two RBI, while Anthony Coggins had a RBI single. Colton Stuzman, who had a web gem catch in the first game, had a RBI in the second. Also plating a run was Tanner Crozier.

Bellaire was sparked once again by Conroy’s bat. He had a solo home run and a single. Ramsay, who suffered the mound loss, had a RBI single. Rejonis and Porter both had a double. Josh Crawford had two singles and a double.