CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Weathering two rain delays and a three-run deficit, Wahama repeated the hard way in Class A.
Dalton Kearns’ sixth-inning single brought home the go-ahead run as the White Falcons took home a 5-4 win over Wheeling Central.
“We’ve got a ‘Repeat’ shirt the players have been wearing all year, but I wouldn’t wear it,” said Wahama coach Tom Cullen said. “I need to find it and put it on I guess.”
Down 4-1, Wahama (22-11) chipped away on Colton Arrington’s two-run fifth-inning double.
Then they finished the comeback in the sixth with help from miscues by Wheeling Central (18-10).
After a two-out error gave Wahama a first-and-third threat, Philip Hoffman scored the tying run when a rundown enticed an errant throw. Kearns followed by lining Tyler Riedel’s fastball into left field for the go-ahead single—his second RBI of the night after producing only 10 in the first 32 games.
“I haven’t been the best hitter, but in clutch situations I want to be the dude to do it,” Kearns said. “Luckily I got it done.”
Mason Hicks, who pitched Wahama to last year’s title, did the job again. He wasn’t sharp early after a three-hour rain delay pushed back the start, but he emerged from a second weather delay, sporting more zip on his pitches.
Buoyed by his team’s rally, Hicks finished off a complete-game seven-hitter that featured six strikeouts.
“It’s a mindset and once we got back out there I realized these are my last six outs,” the senior said. “I’m not going anywhere to play college ball, so this was all I’ve got.”
Hicks got help in the bottom of the seventh when center fielder Jared Nutter made a rolling catch on Riedel’s sinking liner.
“Our kids battled, but congratulations to Wahama—they’re deserving champions,” said Wheeling Central coach Jamey Conlin. “We had a stated goal of winning the championship, but we weren’t good enough today. It’s state championship baseball and we weren’t good enough.”
Wheeling Central snapped a 1-1 tie in the fourth on back-to-back RBI singles by Kevin Keane and Isaac Rine. When Keane broke from third base on a suicide squeeze, Hicks stepped off the rubber and fired home in ample time for the out, but plate umpire Ben Smith called a balk and the Maroon Knights led 4-1.
“We had the lead and wanted to add on, but we were unable to because (Hicks) shut us down,” Conlin said.
Kearns doubled to score the courtesy runner for catcher Tyler Grimm in the second for Wahama, where Cullen wrapped up his 13th season as head coach in winning fashion.
“The community’s been great and the kids really picked it up,” Cullen said. “They probably want to get in the back of a truck tonight and ride through town in the middle of the rain.”