Bethany Sweeps Past Barton For First OVBL Championship
Brewers’ Leonard Earns Most Valuable Player Honors
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BETHANY - The third time was a definite charm for Nick Leonard. Twice in his Ohio Valley Baseball League career he has been a member of a team that watched a 2-0 advantage slip away in the best-of-5 championship series.
Monday night Leonard singled twice and doubled to drive in three runs as second-seeded Bethany (15-7-2) won the storied program's first-ever OVBL title with a 13-3 pounding of No. 4 Barton (8-15) on the artificial infield at Bethany Park.
"It feels really good," Bethany player/manager John Santimarino said. "If things didn't happen last year like they did, I think we could've swept them then, also. It feels even better tonight that we were able to sweep them."
In the three game series, Leonard, a former Brooke High standout and current assistant baseball coach, went 8-for-12 (.667), scored four runs and knocked in four to earn MVP honors in the clean sweep.
"I played for Weirton in 2020 and last year for Bethany when we blew 2-0 leads and lost in five games," Leonard said. "It feels great after what happened last year. It is good to be on top and bring a championship to Bethany."
Santimarino praised Leonard for his willingness to get behind the plate in the final two games.
"He stepped up, not only at the plate, but behind it when we needed him. He's a good player. He always gives it his all."
Bethany wasn't about to let the series be prolonged any further than Game 3 as it posted five runs in the bottom of the first on six hits in chasing Barton starter Zach Smith. The Braves also helped out with four errors that allowed all five tallies to be unearned.
"We're rebuilding. We never put the same lineup on the field all year," veteran Barton manager Billy Timko said. "I give my guys credit. We may be rebuilding, but we made the finals."
Timko was also quick to praise Bethany for the way they played.
"I coached John when I was at John Marshall and I know what kind of individual he is," Timko said. "For him to have built this team as young as he is and to get where he is at, he deserves everything he gets.
"I congratulate them. They hit the ball like nobody we saw all year."
Santimarino agreed.
"That's been the story all series. When we have our full team here, we’re the most feared bats in the league I feel," he stressed. "We can string hits together pretty well."
Eight of the nine positions in the Brewers order collected at least one hit, with Leonard leading the 13-hit attack with three. Nathan Bittinger and Raymond DeFranco each singled and doubled, with DeFranco clearing the bases with a sixth-inning double that highlighted a six-run uprising. Russ Schwertfeger added two singles and scored three runs.
Barton's Gavyn Romanyak laced a trio of singles, as did Kobe Hill. Jack Selmon added a double and Smith drove in two runs with a single. Nolan Blackburn had a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.
Hunter Mozingo earned the mound win with a strikeout and two walks in 4.2 innings.
Barton's Jesse Nixon relieved Smith in the first. The veteran righty had thrown 114 pitches on Sunday and pitched into the sixth (69 pitches) before being taken out.