Baseball: Wheeling rallies for wild win over Hersey

Wheeling' Patrick Cooney figured he had the afternoon off on Monday.

And when his team fell behind 9-0 to Hersey in the top of the fourth, Cooney, who was scheduled to start against Hersey on Wednesday, began to look for a warm place in the dugout.

"I knew I wasn't supposed to play," Cooney said. "But coach (Jason Wieder) gave us a huge lecture Saturday about fighting back. Today we had a team meeting and we did."

Indeed.

The Wildcats roared back in a comeback for the ages to stun Hersey 10-9 in 8 innings Monday in Wheeling.

"I have been part of a lot of baseball here," Wieder said. "As a player and as a coach. But today is the coolest game I have ever had on this field."

Wieder was limited in his coaching decisions after being confined to the bench after arguing a call at second base. He watched as his Wildcats clawed their way back into the game.

"These kids are tremendous by the way they fought," Wieder said. "I was on the bench and the kids turned to me and said 'Don't worry coach. We got this.' "

With the win, Wheeling (6-6-1, 4-0) also has sole possession of first place in the MSL East.

Next thing Cooney knew, he was warming up after his teammates fought back to tie the game at 9 in the bottom of the fifth.

Cooney looked like he was very warm, pitching the final 3 innings while allowing just 1 hit and blanking Hersey.

Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Cooney delivered at the plate.

Bryan Niznik led off with a single. DJ Godlewski then dropped a bunt down the third base line for single.

Wieder, who was still able to make player changes, had Johnny Kappel come in to pinch run. Kappel, who opted for baseball over track this spring, made Wieder look even better when he beat the throw to third after Kyle Bullock laid down a bunt to load the bases.

Cooney made things really hot for the Wildcats when he singled down the third base line to drive in the winning run.

"I had trust in my teammates, and that gave me confidence to hit," Cooney said. "I was just trying not to strike out."

Hersey (4-8-1, 1-3) had made things look easy heading into the bottom of the fourth. Hersey had tallied 5 times in the top of that frame in opening up a 9-0 lead.

Wheeling bounced back, scoring 6 runs in their half of the inning to pick up some momentum, with the big blow coming on a 2-run triple by Cade Kaplan.

Wheeling made it all the way back in the fifth when Kaplan doubled home Kevin Pavia and Mike Wiase.

"My first at bat, I struck out looking and I was not proud," said Kaplan, who had 4 RBI. "We were down in a slump. But we started to come back and I helped seal the deal. I am so excited right now."

Hersey coach Bob Huber, who also found himself confined to his bench, was disappointed.

"You usually don't blow a 9-run lead," Huber said. "We were one more at-bat away from going ahead by 10. They get 6 and suddenly they get all excited. But you could just see the momentum change."

John O'Shea was 4-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored for Hersey. Tyler Haffey had 2 doubles and 2 RBI while Quinn Gudaitis had 2 hits and 2 RBI.