T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY WHEELING PARK shortstop Nate Simon throws on to first to complete a double play Sautrday against University in the OVAC 5A championship game.

RICHMOND – Wheeling Park exhibited the heart of a champion Saturday afternoon. As a result, the Patriots of Coach Steve Myers are just that – OVAC Class 5A champions.

Park posted an amazing, 5-4, eight-inning win over a quality University High squad at the gorgeous Edison High Unified Sports Complex. The Hawks struck for two runs in the top of the eighth, pinning the Patriots back to the walls.

Myers’ resilient charges, however, were up to the monumental task, pushing across three tallies to earn its second OVAC crown in three years. Park was runner up a year ago.

“I am so proud of these guys. They showed a lot of resolve,” Myers noted. “They kept battling and never quit. They didn’t hang their heads when University took the lead in the eighth.

“It was one tremendous game. University played extremely well,” added the classy mentor. “It feels great winning another OVAC championship,” especially the way we had to do it.”

Deadlocked at 2 after seven well-played frames, University wasted no time seizing the lead in the eighth, opening with three straight hits. Cory Thomas and Noah Braham singled and came scooting home on a ringing triple down the right field line off the bat off Wenkai Campbell. However, despite no outs, Campbell was stranded at third, which would prove key.

Jared Marsh ignited the Park comeback by reaching on a throwing error. Nathan Bittinger singled Marsh to third. Braydon Kupsky delivered an RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 4-3.

Gian Degenova coaxed a walk before Ryan Conrad reached on a fielder’s choice with no outs being recorded on the play. Nate Simon knotted the affair with a groundout to first base. Senior Quinn Jamison produced the game-winner via an infield single which brought home the winning run, setting off a wild Patriot celebration.

“This is a special group. They have done everything we have asked of them,” Myers said. “Winning OVAC championships is special. I am very happy for our seniors. They are great leaders.

“University deserves a lot of credit. They beat a quality Morgantown team in the semifinals to get here,” he added. “We got up 2-0 after the first two innings but we didn’t do much at the plate until we had to.”

The fourth-seeded Hawks fell to 16-9 on the season. They beat city rival Morgantown 10-4 in the semifinals. Second-seeded Park, which downed Brooke 5-2 to advance to the finals, won for the 18th time in 24 starts.

“This is a gut-wrenching loss for sure. We were three outs away from the title,” University coach Brad Comport said. “We made a couple of mistakes that came back to hurt us, especially in the last inning.

“Give Wheeling Park credit. They did what they needed to do. They responded well in the last inning,” he added. “But I am proud of how we competed. Our guys played hard. They just came up a little short.”

Park drew first blood in its initial at-bat. Bittinger singled, stole second and was plated on a Degenova groundout. The Patriots made it 2-0 in the second. Jamison singled, stole second and came home on a Tino Nardone single.

University halved the deficit with a run in the fourth. Brodee Latocha singled and came home on Braham’s double off the left centerfield fence.

The Hawks knotted the affair in the sixth. Latocha walked and moved to third on singles from Braham and Campbell. Gabe’s Templeton’s grounder plated Latocha.

University had the makings of a potential big fifth frame only to fall victim to a pair of sparkling Park defensive plays. Jake Crosten and Gabe Jansen opened the inning with back-to-back singles. However, Conrad gunned down Crosten in his attempt to steal third before Marsh made a terrific throw from center field to nail Jansen at the plate. He was attempting to score from second on a Jett Walters’ single.

Senior southpaw Luke Doyle was the first of three Park hurlers. He pitched well, striking out two and walking one. He gave way to Degenova in the sixth. Luke Myers earned the mound win as he entered in the eighth.

Cody Vance started on the bump for the Hawks. He fanned five and walked four before giving way to Cory Thomas in the sixth. Thomas struck out one and walked a like amount in taking the loss.

Park was limited to five hits. Jamison was the lone Patriot to have a pair of safeties.