WEIRTON – The Weir baseball team was able to rally once to stay alive against Beaver Local, however, the it was not able to do it a second time.

The Beavers scored a run in the top of the ninth inning to break the tie, and they were able to keep the Red Riders off the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning as they came away with a 4-3 victory in nine innings Tuesday evening up at the Weir High Baseball Field.

With the loss, Weir is now 14-16 on the season, while Beaver Local improved to 15-9 with the win.

After a scoreless eighth inning, Beavers came to bat in the ninth with a chance to take the lead, and the visitors were able to do that. With one out, Braxton Hickman singled to right, and the pitcher scored on a double to center by Tysen Hammonds to give the visitors from Columbiana County a 4-3 lead.

A strikeout resulted in the second out of the inning, however, Reid Schwera and Peyton Martin were issued back-to-back walks to load the bases, however, the hosts were able to get out of the inning without any more damage being done thanks to a strikeout.

The Red Riders attempted to answer in the home half of the inning. With one out, Nico Glass singled to left to give them a baserunner, however, Glass was stranded there thanks to a strikeout and a groundout bringing the game to an end.

Hickman picked up the win on the mound for the Beavers in relief of starter Paxton Grimes. Grimes pitched the first six innings striking out five while walking four. Hickman pitched the final three innings striking out three and walking two.

Weir used three pitchers in the game. Mathew Geer started the game, and he struck out two and walked two in his three innings of work on the mound. Geer was replaced by Liam Williamson, who started the game at catcher. Williamson pitched the next three innings striking out two while walking three. Cayden Braswell came on in relief, and he was saddled with the loss. Braswell struck out six while walking two in his three innings of relief.

Beaver Local outhit Weir, 13-7, en route to win.

The Beavers struck first with a run in the second. Hammonds singled for the first time in the game to lead off the inning before advancing to third on a one-out single by Schwera. With runners on the corners, Martin did his job and hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Hammonds with the game’s first run as Beaver Local took a 1-0 lead.

The Red Riders answered back in the home half of the third. Teddy Glyptis walked to start the inning, and he ended up scoring enabling his team to knot the score at 1.

Weir took the lead in the fifth. Glyptis got things rolling again when he drew a two-out walk. Glyptis moved up to second on a single by Glass before scoring on a single to left by Nick DiMatteis giving the Red Riders a 2-1 advantage.

Beaver Local came right back to tie the game at 2-all in its half of the sixth. Martin started the inning off with a single, and he advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Andre Wiegand. After a walk, AJ Bowser plated Martin with the tying run on a groundout to second. Weir was able to get out of the inning thanks to a pop-up.

The Beavers regained the lead in the seventh. After a pair of strikeouts, Aiden Dray and Schwera delivered back-to-back base hits to give Beaver Local a pair of baserunners. Then, the pair moved up a base on a passed before Dray scored on another passed ball to make the score, 3-2. Schwera moved up to third on the play, however, he was stranded in scoring position thanks to a strikeout.

The Red Riders had to answer to stay alive, and Weir was able to do just that. Jonathan Horstman walked to get the inning started, and he advanced to second when Glyptis reached on an error on an attempted sacrifice. The runners advanced on a balk, however, Horstman ended up being out at the plate trying to score on a fielder’s choice as Glyptis moved to third. DiMatties then plated Glyptis with a sacrifice fly to center to deadlock the game at 3. Glass advanced to second on the play.

Aleks Zanieski was then intentionally walked to put a pair of runners on base before both runners moved up a base on a balk. Braswell stepped to the plate with a chance to win the game for Weir, however, he did not get that chance as he was intentionally walked loading the bases. The strategy paid off for Beaver Local as Hickman got a flyout to center to end the inning without any more damage being done.

Jett Johnson collected a single and a double to help Beaver Local’s cause.

For Weir, Geer recorded a double, while Braswell singled twice and Kason Lash singled once.

Beaver Local is scheduled to play Oak Glen at 5 p.m. today on the road. The game will be the Beavers third in Hancock County this season as Beaver Local played Madonna at Bowman Field earlier in the season.

Weir is slated to play John Marshall at 5 p.m. Friday at home.

Beaver Local 4, Weir 3

Beaver Local 010 001 101 – 4 13 1

Weir 001 010 100 – 3 7 0

BEAVER LOCAL (15-9): Grimes (6IP, 5K, 4BB), Hickman WP (3IP, 3K, 2BB) and Dray. Grimes S; Bowser S, RBI; Johnson S, D; Hickman S; Hammonds 2S, D, RBI; Dray S; Schwera 2S; Martin S, 2RBI; Wiegand S.

WEIR (14-16): Geer (3IP, 2K, 2BB), Williamson (3IP, 2K, 3BB), Braswell LP (6K, 2BB) and Williamson and Geer. Glass 2S; DiMatteis S, 2RBI; Braswell 2S; Geer D; Lash S.