BUCKEYE LOCAL’S Alan Burkett fields a ground ball during Tuesday’s OVAC All-Star Baseball Game at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex in Elm Grove. Ohio suffered a 7-6 setback to West Virginia.

WHEELING — Wheeling Park’s Chris Vargo received an invitation to the annual George Kovalick OVAC All-Star Baseball Game based on his outstanding pitching performance this year.

However, it was his bat that helped decide the outcome of the contest.

In a tie game in the ninth, Vargo delivered a single and later scored the winning run when John Marshall’s Derek Black supplied a walk-off single to the opposite field to give West Virginia a 7-6 triumph over the Ohio All-Stars on Tuesday at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex.

“I was hoping James (Salvatori of Wheeling Park) would get on because my plan was to bunt him over,” Vargo said. “But he didn’t get on, so I just went up swinging and whatever happens, happens.”

Vargo only had one plate appearance during the regular season, drawing a walk and scoring in the process.

“I said ‘I’m sorry, you should have hit all year long,'” West Virginia All-Stars coach Steve Myers of Wheeling Park said with a laugh.

“But it’s great. It’s fitting for a kid who just works so hard and he’s a wonderful kid.”

Vargo’s big hit set the table for Black, who was ready for the moment and shined in the spotlight.

“It’s crazy,” Black said. “They put me in that position and I’m just glad I could come through for them. I was waiting for a dead-red fastball on the first pitch and I got it.

“This was a very cool experience and I’m glad to be here.”

Weir’s Thomas Devecchis earned the win on the mound, while Cambridge’s Blake Brumfield took the loss.

While West Virginia enjoyed a thrilling ending, it was Ohio that shot off some fireworks of its own in the top of the frame with three runs to rally and keep the game going.

A hit batsman, two errors and a walk loaded the bases for OVAC 2A Player of the Year, Jake Rose of River, who was also hit by a pitch to plate a run.

With the bases still loaded, St. Clairsville’s Will Balgo evened the score with a two-run double.

“All-star games are so much fun,” Ohio All-Stars coach Tom Sliva of St. Clairsville said. “There are a lot of well-coached kids who play the right way. They are great kids to be around and there is a lot of camaraderie in the dugout. Being around the other coaches is a lot of fun, too. The kids had a blast and it was a well-played all-star game.”

The mountain state went out to a 3-0 lead heading to the fourth after Linsly’s Kobe Hill scored on a passed ball, Magnolia’s Silas McKeever raced home on an error and Oak Glen’s Cody Patterson grounded out to plate Morgantown’s Ethan Smith.

Ohio got two runs back in the fourth after Shenandoah’s Cade Denius recorded a bunt single and scored on a RBI knock from Martins Ferry’s Logan Smith. Smith later trotted home on a balk to make it a 3-2 score.

River’s Carter Dennis tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh when he doubled and later scored.

However, West Virginia got the lead right back with a three-run seventh when McKeever, Ethan Smith and Oak Glen’s Colten Ash all drove in runs in the bottom of the frame to create a 6-3 margin before the ninth-inning excitement took place.

Linsly’s Zac Taylor paced West Virginia’s offense with two hits, while Balgo led Ohio with a single, a double and two RBI, followed by Denius who finished with a single and a double.

John Marshall’s Joel Wise struck out three in two innings, while teammate Bryce Rayl fanned two in one frame. Vargo earned the start on the hill and struck out one for West Virginia.

OVAC 3A Player of the Year Ayden Hannahs of Barnesville was the starting pitcher for Ohio and he struck out one and walked one in one inning.

“We had a lot of fun,” Myers said. “It was good to see some of the kids you watch your kids compete against throughout the season and you can finally root for them. It’s a great group of kids.”