Photo by Kim North Wheeling Central first baseman Zayne Rosnick watches the ball on a pickoff attempt during Monday’s game at the Red Knight Baseball Complex in Toronto. Rosnick had a double as the Maroon Knights won, 6-2.

TORONTO – A pair of state-ranked OVAC baseball powerhouses squared off Monday at the Red Knight Baseball Complex, with visiting Wheeling Central halting a two-game losing streak with a 6-2 triumph over Toronto.

The Maroon Knights (2-2) were ranked No. 3 in the latest W.Va. Class A power ratings, while the Red Knights (5-1) were second in Ohio’s Division VI.

“We kind of thought our pitching was going to carry us early on, and it has in the first four games,” Wheeling Central head coach Todd Cover said. “We’re still trying to figure out the offense, but we lost four really good hitters from last year, so today was a step forward in that regard against a quality team.

“We just want to build off of today’s effort and get better with each game.”

Wheeling Central rode the right arm of NCAA Division I signee Steven Brodegard as the Mercyhurst University signee struck out 10, walked one, hit two and scattered five hits in six innings. The 6-7 Brodegard wiggled his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth by recording his final punchout.

“We uncharacteristically made some mistakes in the field. We are usually very solid,” veteran Toronto head coach Brian Perkins said. “You can’t have those mistakes against a good team. It opened the door for them.

“We competed until the end and I’m very proud of my kids for that,” Perkins said.

Brady Ernest doubled to deep left to start the Wheeling Central second and scooted to third on an errant pickoff attempt. With one out, he raced home on Clay Petry’s bloop single to right for a 1-0 lead.

Toronto drew even in the third on an RBI double by losing pitcher Drake Bouscher that scored Max Rebich.

Two runs in the top of the fourth and another pair in the sixth allowed the Maroon Knights to build a 5-1 advantage, which was more than enough for the hard-throwing Brodegard. Of the four tallies, only one was earned, however.

Zayne Rosnick led off the fourth with a double down the first base line and Koy Lipinski legged out an infield single as Rosnick took third. A wild pitch allowed Rosnick to slide in safely, while Lipinski scored on an error.

Petry launched his second home run of the season over the fence in left and, most likely, into the Ohio River leading off the sixth. Brayden Cover reached second on a throwing error and he would score on Jake Brown’s fielder’s choice.

“Clay has surprising power,” Coach Cover said. “He’s a really good hitter who has been stuck behind some really good players. He’s waited his time and has a good attitude. We have full confidence in him and always have.”

Toronto got one run back in the bottom of the sixth on Gunnar Newbold’s groundout, but after Brodegard plunked Chase Heckathorn and Heath Thomas with consecutive pitches, he caught the next batter looking to end the rally.

Cover’s RBI double in the seventh bumped the count to 6-2 and Matt Criniti worked out of a first-and-third situation to end the game.

“The Brodegard kid threw hard and kept us off balance, but we had our chances,” Perkins allowed. “We just couldn’t come up with that big hit, but when you play good teams with good pitchers, that happens. This is a tough group of kids. They’ll bounce back and I wouldn’t expect anything else from them.”

Petry, Ernest and Lipinski all had two hits for the Maroon Knights. Petry had a pair of ribbies.

Bouscher, who is committed to NCAA Division I Oakland University in Michigan, and Michael Henry each had two hits for Toronto.

Wheeling Central will host Fort Frye at the St. Clairsville Jr. Sports Complex Tuesday at 5 p.m. Toronto is back in action Thursday when Burgettstown, Pa., visits the Gem City.

“It’s actually fun to play on the road,” Coach Cover said of not being able to play a home game this season due to field conditions at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex. “I think it takes some pressure off of the kids, but the thing we don’t get to do is take (pre-game) batting practice. We’re pretty much coming out cold at the plate, but the kids are used to it and they are resilient. Like I always tell them, ‘Life is going to throw you some curveballs and you’ve got to adapt to them.”

Wheeling Central 6, Toronto 2

Central 010 202 1 – 6 9 0

Toronto 001 001 0 – 2 6 3

WC-Brodegard wp (10K, 1BB), Criniti (7), (1K, 1BB) and Lipinski; Rosnick D; Lipinski 2S; Ernest S, D; Pertry S, HR, 2rbi; Cover D, rbi

T-Bouscher lp (3K, 2BB), McGrath (5), (2K, 0BB) and McGrath, Henry (5); Bouscher S, D, rbi; Henry 2S; G. Newbold S, rbi