Andrew Grimm CELEBRATION — Brooke players rush to celebrate with pitcher Parker McMahon after the final out of Wednesday's regional elimination game victory.

After a little bit of a slow start, the Bruins got going and were able to accomplish that mission, pulling away for an 8-1 victory over North Marion in a Class AAA, Region 1 tournament elimination game.

The win earns the Bruins a return trip to bracket high seed East Fairmont needing two victories over the Bees to advance.

“Live to fight another day, that’s what this time of the year is all about — finding a way to keep playing,” Brooke head coach Doug Costain said. “We’re not ready to be done hanging out together, every day that we win is another day that we get to keep being a team, another day the 2026 version of the Brooke Bruins stays together.

“These guys believe they can do it, they’re excited to go back down there and keep playing. We’ve got two more to go get.”

Andrew Grimm DELIVERY — Brooke's Parker McMahon delivers to a North Marion batter. He delivered a complete game victory to help Brooke stay alive in the tournament.

The game was scoreless through the first two innings before Brooke (16-18-1) got on the board in the bottom of the third and then added four runs with a big inning in the fourth, taking control from there.

“We don’t ever seem to start quick, it’s like they want to make me nervous and give the old coach some chest pains, but they got it going and we were able to get ahead and start counting outs,” Costain said.

Parker McMahon tossed a gem on the mound for the Bruins, coming an out shy of a complete game shutout. He struck out nine and walked four in going the distance, which was key as it allowed the rest of the Brooke pitching staff to rest with potentially two more games ahead.

“Parker pitched a gem, he did a great job,” Costain said. “He stayed within the pitch count and that really saves us, that puts a lot of things back in play for us. It’s huge, when you’re four or five deep in the rotation and have kids stepping up, it really helps in this format.”

For the Bruins, Andrew Murdock had a double, single and two RBIs, Zac O’Mery and Gino Provenzano each tallied two hits and an RBI, Blaine Beatty had a pair of hits and Ty Sperringer, Aiden Lathem, Aiden Provenzano and Dustin Engle each plated a run.

Andrew Grimm ON THE RUN — Brooke's Dustin Engle races to second base after a teammate hit the ball.

“We hit the ball well today, that’s a lot of hits for us,” Costain said. “We put the ball in play and made them field the ball and it was to out benefit.”

Regardless of what happens over the next couple of days, Wednesday was the final home game for the Bruins this season as both potential regional final games will take place in Fairmont and the winner goes on to play in the state tournament in Huntington.

The victory not only gave Brooke a chance to keep playing, but the Bruins’ seven seniors — Murdock, Aiden Provenzano, O’Mery, Beatty, Sperringer, Gavin Kuchinski and Lathem — a victory in their last game on their home diamond.

“Those seven seniors, I’ve been here three years and had them since their sophomore season,” Costain said. “They are special kids, they’re going to be successful in life. It means a lot to us to get them a win in their last home game.”

WVSSAC Class AAA Tournament

Andrew Grimm LAUNCH ANGLE — Brooke's Aiden Provezano sends a fly ball off his bat, driving in a run with a sac fly in the proccess.

Region 1 Elimination Game

At Brooke High School

No. 3 Brooke 8, No. 6 North Marion 1

NM 0-0-0 0-0-0 1 — 1 4 2

B 0-0-1 4-1-2 x — 8 12 3

Andrew Grimm HEADED HOME — Brooke's Blaine Beatty races home from third base to score a run.

NORTH MARION (3-20): Waskis (LP, 4 2/3IP, 6R, 4ER, 9H, 3K, 2BB, 1HBP), Braham (1 1/3IP, 2R, 2ER, 3H, 0K, 2BB) and Getz. Kucish S; Verbosky S; Brown S; Getz S.

BROOKE (16-18-1): McMahon (WP, CG, 1R, 1ER, 4H, 9K, 4BB, 2HBP) and A. Provenzano. T. Sperringer S, RBI; O’Mery 2S, RBI; MurdockS, D, 2RBIs; G. Provenzano 2S, RBI; Lethen S, RBI; A. Provenzano RBI; Engle S, RBI; Beatty 2S; McMahon S.

Andrew Grimm SLIDING — Brooke's Andrew Murdock slides into third base ahead of a throw.