Maynard’s Tyler Ramsay (without helmet) is congratulated after belting a two-run homer in the fifth inning of Game 2 in an Ohio Valley Baseball League quarter final playoff game Tuesday night. However, Wheeling remained alive in the best-of-3 series with a dominant 10-5 victory. The decisive Game 3 is Thursday in Maynard.

MAYNARD – After not advancing a runner to third base in Game 1 of its Ohio Valley Baseball League quarter final playoff series against Maynard on Monday, defending champion Wheeling pushed five runs across in the bottom of the third en route to a 10-5 victory in Game 2 on Tuesday on Firemen’s Field inside the Community Park.

The fifth-seeds (4-14) did a complete 360 in 24 hours to keep their season alive. Game 3 will be played Thursday, once again in Maynard, at 6 o’clock. The winner will advance to meet top-seeded Barton (14-5) in the semifinals.

“I knew these guys weren’t going to roll over,” Wheeling manager Scott Shaw said. “It was just a matter of convincing them of that.”

Fourth-seeded Maynard (10-8) actually led 1-0 in the top of the third when Mason VanNest drew a leadoff walk. He stole second and scooted to third on a throwing error. He would be awarded home on one-out walk.

Although Wheeling, which served as the home team, only produced one hit in each of the third and fourth innings, it tallied nine runs thanks to some sloppy play and erratic pitching by the Indians.

“We still haven’t hit the ball like we are capable of, but we’ll take whatever they give us and try to capitalize upon it,” Shaw said. “We had a few good hits tonight with runners in scoring position. Maybe this is the start of something.”

Wheeling’s two hits came off the bat of Doug Clark, who also earned the win in relief. Both of his singles knocked in a pair of runs each. The lefty struck out six, walked five but only gave up five hits. He took over for Josh Schramm, also a southpaw, who pitched the final two innings of Game 1.

“It felt good tonight. Just like last year when we won it (the title),” Clark said. “We need to bring the same attitude on Thursday and get the job done.”

Shaw said he had a gameplan going into Game 2.

“We thought they were a little uncomfortable against our left-handers towards the end of the regular season, so that’s why we used two left-handers tonight,” he noted. “They both did excellent jobs.”

Michael Toepfer had a sacrifice fly in the 5-run third and Seth Burgdolt had a run-producing fly out in the fourth. Brian Shaw recorded an RBI single in the fifth to cap the scoring.

“We just couldn’t come up with the big hit like we did on Monday,” Maynard manager David Vicker said. “We left too many men on base tonight and made too many errors.”

Maynard stranded 11 runners, two each in the first, second, fifth and sixth innings.

Tyler Ramsay slugged a two-run home to deep left in the fifth to make it 9-3 and Hunter Westlake drove in a run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly. Ramsay also had a single as Maynard only mustered seven hits.

Sonny Pelechutte pitched the seventh for Wheeling, striking out one.

Andy Bailer suffered the loss. He was followed to the mound by Bryce Amos, Mackenzie Koehler and Parker Dyson.

Bethany 14, Colerain 2

MARTINS FERRY – The third-seeded Brewers (15-8) completed their two-game sweep of the host Hitmen (3-15) on the Martins Ferry High School diamond.

Bethany now advances to meet No. 2 Weirton (9-4) on Friday at Edwin J. Bowman Field in downtown Weirton. Game time is 6 p.m.