Photo by Andrew Grimm Oak Glen's Josh Maher delivers a pitch against Catholic Central on Monday.

Visiting Catholic Central plated three runs in the top of the first inning on a cold, windy and at times, rainy evening.

However, the Bears’ bats started to heat up and ultimately caught fire with a pair of five-run innings as Oak Glen scored 14 of the last 15 runs to earn a 14-4, run rule victory over the Crusaders.

“We would like to start a little faster, be excited to come out and play baseball. I know it’s tough with the Ohio Valley weather sometimes, it’s cold and rainy so it can tough to get going sometimes, but after that first inning, we really woke up,” Oak Glen head coach Eric Hayden said. “It’s good to be back home, even with the weather. It’s good to play in front of the home crowd and have the support from the community.”

Oak Glen (4-8) scored a run in the bottom of the first and two in the second before bringing home five each in the third and fourth to take control.

Photo by Andrew Grimm Central third baseman Tommy Symington makes a play.

After Central (1-3) scored a run in the top of the fifth to extend the game, a bases-loaded hit by pitch enacted the run rule and gave the Bears a reason to celebrate as the rain started to fall and a rainbow shined over the outfield.

James Rohbeck had a monster game for the Golden Bears, finishing 3 for 3 with two triples, a double and driving in nine of the runs. He was hit by the pitch that ended the game, had a bases-clearing triple in the fourth-inning outburst, a three-run double in the big third inning and tied the game with a two-run triple in the second.

“He had a heck-of-a game, nine RBIs, two triples and a double, we’ll take that any day,” Hayden said. “With the way we’re pitching, if we can get the kind of production we got today from the middle of the line up, we like our chances against anyone.”

After giving up three runs in the first inning, Josh Maher did not allow another and settled in for a five strikeout day in earning the win on the mound.

“Josh settled in and did a good job,” Hayden said. “He’s strike thrower. He was throwing strikes in the first inning, but missing spots a little bit. He gave up an 0-2 hit that got him out whack a little bit, but he locked in. You can always trust that he is going to find his rhythm and he’s going to battle. That’s what we love him for. He’s a strike thrower and he’s our guy.”

Photo by Andrew Grimm Oak Glen's Luke Buckler makes a throw for an out.

Sam Jenkins and Christian Chappell each drove in a pair of runs as well.

For Central, it was a disappointing way for things to go after a great start. The Crusaders left the bases loaded two innings in a row when the score was closer.

“We came out hot, but we have to learn to keep the foot on the has offensively and defensively,” Central head coach Andrew Henry said. “One thing we’re having trouble with right now as a team is finding out competitive nature. We need to make sure, when we come out and get a lead, that we keep competing. We also need to build some confidence as a group, and confidence is built through success. It’s hard to show up with confidence when you lose a couple in a row, but it will come with time.

“We aren’t giving up, we’re getting runners on base and putting pressure on the defense. We do like to see that, but we just need a little more competitive drive in those moments when we have opportunities to put runs on the board. We just did not come up with the big hits we needed.”

Zach Bryan had two hits and the RBIt that extended the game, while Jojo Corabi had an RBI double in the big first inning and finished with two hits in the day.

Photo by Andrew Grimm Central's Jospeh Vranish fires a pitch.

UP NEXT

Catholic Central: Has a trip to Shadyside on Thursday.

Oak Glen: Has a rematch with county rival Weir High today on the road. They dropped a 1-0 pitcher’s duel the in the first meeting.

Oak Glen 14, Catholic Central 4

CC 3-0-0 0-1-x x — 4 6 2

OG 1-2-5 5-1-x x — 14 11 4

CATHOLIC CENTRAL (1-3):

OAK GLEN (4-8):