WEIRTON — Robert Louis Stevenson didn’t write his classic book the “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” about the Weir softball team’s 2026 season, but he could have as the famous expressions sums up the Red Riders’ season.

A day after delivering a lackluster performance in a loss to Wheeling Park, Weir came out and hit the ball all over the field against Edison as the Red Riders recorded nine runs in the bottom of the first inning and did not look back en route to defeating the Wildcats, 16-1, in four innings via mercy rule Thursday evening up at the Roberta “Birdie” DeFrancis Softball Field.

“Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is accurate,” Weir (8-3) head coach John Leary said. “You never know what you are going to get day to day. We are still trying to get the feel of this crew. We came out and hit the ball in the first inning. We took advantage of some walks, but we hit the ball. Even the girls in the lower part of our lineup put the ball in play.

“It was night and day from yesterday. We have to find the middle ground with this crew, and we want to stay there. We don’t want to have the extremes like we have had the last two days. We scored 16 runs today, and I am glad we did. I am not going to complain about us scoring 16 runs. Only an idiot would complain about scoring 16 runs.

“This was a big one for us as far as the OVAC goes. Edison is in the same class as us. We are going to see them again next week. They are a really-good team.

“You are going to have days like this. Some days, everything is going to be positive. Other days, things are not going to go well, It won’t be the same game when we play them out there. It is going to be a different game. It is going to be a normal Weir High-Edison game.”

For Edison, this has been a week of slow starts leading to big losses, and the Wildcats suffered another one against the Red Riders.

“They outplayed us in every way,” Edison (7-4) head coach McKenzie Morrison said. “We have to get better.”

Edison allowed seven runs in the first inning against Oak Glen Monday on the road, and the Golden Bears went on to defeat the Wildcats, 11-1, in four-and-a-half innings. Wednesday, Big Red plated four runs in the first on their way to an 11-3 victory against Edison on the road.

The Red Riders recorded two runs in the first inning in their 5-2 loss against the Patriots. Weir had one hit in the inning, and the team did not pick up its second one until the seventh inning.

On the flip side, after tallying two runs on two hits against Wheeling Park, the girls in white tallied nine runs on six hits in the first inning against the Wildcats.

“I did not scream or yell at them or anything,” Leary said. “I just told them how disappointed I was with the way we played. We did not look like the same team we did in our first nine games. We were dead in the dugout. There was no enthusiasm. We were mentally checked out. I don’t want to say that, because I don’t want to take anything away from Wheeling Park. I want to give Wheeling Park all the credit. Wheeling Park is always as good team. Wheeling Park always hits the ball. They beat us. There are no excuses. We did not play well. Wheeling Park is a good team. When you don’t play well against a good team like Wheeling Park, you are going to get your butts kicked.”

The hosts scored at least two runs in all four innings they batted in while pounding out 11 hits.

The Red Riders have had an issue of being unable to stop the bleeding at times this season as the Red-and-Black gave up a four-run inning and a six-run inning during a doubleheader down at Martins Ferry before allowing the Patriots to plate four runs in the fifth inning Wednesday enabling Wheeling Park to come back and rally for the win.

While that has been an issue for Weir this season, the girls from Hancock County did not allow that to happen against Edison as the visitors scored their lone run in the second, and they finished the game with five hits – all of which were singles.

Senior standout Eliza Utt picked up the win inside the circle for Weir. She struck out one and walked one.

The girls in black used two pitchers. Bristol Leanza started in the circle, and the senior was saddled with the loss. She struck out two while walking five in two innings of work. She was replaced during the third by Gwen Stine, who pitched the final 1 2/3 innings of the game. Stine struck out two and walked three.

Utt got the job done in the circle and at the plate for the victors as she collected a single, two doubles and four RBI to lead the way. Also, Bella Weber tallied two singles and three RBI, Chelsea DeVore delivered two singles and two RBI and Zoey Spencer produced a single and two RBI. Next, Lexi Shockley contributed a single and an RBI, Illiona Kirlangitis chipped in with two singles and Loganne Barton ended up with two RBI. Finally, Gianna Pietrantonio plated a run, Lila Boilegh – the team’s leadoff batter – walked four times and recorded four runs and Taviyana Cooley chipped in with two runs.

Sophia Henderson led the way offensively for the Silver-and-Black with two singles, while Abby Boka, Bella Cronin and Chloe Cornish all collected one single. Edison’s lone run scored on an error.

“We are going to practice tomorrow and get ready for Beaver Local on Saturday,” Morrison said.

The Wildcats had a scoring opportunity in the first, but they were unable to capitalize on it. Henderson singled with two outs, and Alivia Hanlin drew a walk to put two runners on base, however, Utt snagged a liner by Cronin to end the inning keeping Edison off the scoreboard.

Weir’s bats came alive in the home half of the inning as the Red Riders recorded nine runs on six hits – two of which went for extra bases – while also having three batters reach base via walk and another reach after being hit by a pitch. All told, the home team sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning.

Boilegh led off the inning by drawing a walk, and the freshman shortstop stole second before scoring on a double by Utt giving Weir an early 1-0 lead. Utt advanced to third on a wild pitch, and she scored on a groundout by Barton to make the score, 2-0. Spencer then singled home Weber, who walked, moved up to second on a defensive indifference and took third on Barton’s groundout, to make it 3-0. Kirlangitis singled, and Shockley was hit by a pitch before DeVore delivered a base hit scoring Spencer to increase Weir’s advantage to 4-0. After a strikeout, Kirlangitis scored on a wild pitch with Boilegh at the plate before Utt cleared the bases with a double scoring Cooley, who ran for Shockley, DeVore and Boilegh to increase Weir’s advantage to 8-0. Weber followed with a single to score Utt making it 9-0.

Edison answered with a run in the second. Peckens started the inning off by getting hit by a pitch, and Paige Sommerville reached on an error to once again give the Wildcats two runners on base. This time, they were able to take advantage as Peckens scored with one out on an error in the outfield, however, Sommerville ended up being thrown out at the plate on the play keeping the score at 9-1. A flyout ended the inning.

Weir tacked on two more runs in the bottom half of the inning as Shockley singled home Kirlangitis, and DeVore plated Cooley, who once again ran for Shockley, to extend the Red Riders’ advantage to 11-1.

The winners scored three more runs in the third as Weber singled home Boilegh, Utt, who also walked, scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Spencer and DiPietrantonio plated Weber when she was issued a walk with the bases loaded to make it a 14-1 ballgame.

The Red Riders ended the game with a pair of runs in the fourth as Weber grounded out to score Boilegh, and Barton brought home Brynn Artman, who ran for Utt, who singled, with the 16th and final run.

“It is a beautiful day,” Leary said. “We are off Friday and Saturday because of our prom. Our prom is Saturday. I wish we were playing, but our prom is Saturday, and we always give them the weekend of our prom off. We hope to continue this next week. We play Wheeling Central Monday, and they are another good team. Next week is a huge week for us. We play games against teams in 3A, 4A and 5A.”

Edison is scheduled to play Beaver Local at 11 a.m. Saturday at home out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.

Weir is slated to play Wheeling Central at 5:30 p.m. Monday down at the I-470 Complex.

Weir 16, Edison 1

Edison 010 0 – 1 5 0

Weir 923 2 – 16 11 2

EDISON (7-4): Leanza LP (2IP, 2K, 5BB), Stine (1 2/3IP, 2K, 3BB) and Hanlin. Boka S; Henderson 2S; Cronin S; Cornish S.

WEIR (8-3): Utt WP (1K, 1BB) and Barton. Utt S, 2D, 4RBI; Weber 2S, 3RBI; Barton 2RBI; Spencer S, 2RBI; Kirlangitis 2S; Shockley S, RBI; DeVore 2S, 2RBI; DiPietrantonio RBI.