Dons stop Weir

March 27, 2012

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Linder will play baseball at Niagara

January 24, 2012

Weirton Daily Times

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WEIRTON - Right there on the field.

Madonna senior Logan Linder was at a baseball showcase event at Division I Niagara University in Lewiston, N.Y., last summer.

"Coach got hold of me through a kid I knew and they had me come up there for a showcase one day and we scrimmaged the next day," said Linder. "They offered me right there on the field. I don't think that normally happens.

"It was a big relief getting everything done before my senior year of baseball. It was a pretty tough decision, a lot tougher than I thought, actually. Niagara has a beautiful campus.

"I wanted to stay close to home, but I wanted to play as soon as I could and I have a good opportunity there to play right away (in center field). I'm really glad I made the decision.

"I wanted to play right away, and that was my main goal. I asked the coach if I had a chance to play right away and he said yes. Everything else fell into place. Niagara fit everything for me."

Linder has been a mainstay for coach Jeff Baire's Blue Dons since his freshman year. He batted .466 as a freshman (34 for 73), .416 as a sophomore (47 for 113) and .443 a year ago (27 for 61). Madonna went to the state tournament his freshman year, losing in the West Virginia Class A semifinals, and won the whole thing his sophomore year. He wants a return trip to Charleston.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I believe we can get there," he said. "It wasn't that much fun last year not getting to go down there."

Linder has started 75 of 77 games for Baire. He has 24 doubles, eight home runs, 99 RBIs, 161 total bases and owns a .674 slugging percentage. He has 27 walks and 26 strikeouts in 292 plate appearances.

"He's going to be seeing a lot of time in center for us this year, but he's also one of those guys who will be out on the mount every fourth game," said Baire.

"After his sophomore year we talked - Amy, Glen and I - about what he should do over the summer. I just gave them my personal opinion that it was probably better for him to go to Pittsburgh and do some traveling with the talent he has. I feel that was what was going to benefit him the most.

"Niagara is one of those schools who got involved after seeing him over the summer through games and camps. We talked back and forth quite a bit.

"The way Logan performs on the field is the way he carries himself off the field, which is the best part. It was an easy sell, as far as that's concerned.

"Logan was very happy with the way things went with the school. He got a great deal and is going to see the field right away. He couldn't ask for more. It's a perfect situation for him."

Linder understands he didn't get to this point alone.

"I want to thank my parents first off. My dad has been my coach my whole life. I want to thank coach Baire and the rest of the coaching staff at Madonna and my summer league coach. Nick DeVrnja, who owns Quick Fit Gym, helps me train a lot. I'd like to thank him also."

Former Weirton Madonna baseball ace Eddie Nogay was named Honorable Mention all PAC for Washington & Jefferson. In his freshman outing, Nogay posted a perfect 3-0 record from the mound with a team best 2.30 ERA.

Washington & Jefferson finished the baseball season with a 19-21 mark, after a lose to Grove City in the PAC Tournament.

For Weirton Madonna, Nogay was a four year letterman in baseball, and a three-year letterman in football. Eddie is the son of Mike and Robin Nogay.

Chris Perna overcame a rough second inning, limiting the Bishops to three hits through six innings and setting down 13 of the final 14 hitters he faced.

Offensively, the Blue Dons exploded for 14 hits in gaining a 12-6, loser's bracket victory against Bishop Donahue at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Junior Sports Complex on Wednesday.

The victory moves Jeff Baire's defending state champions into the finals against Wheeling Central today back at the 470 diamond. However, Madonna will need a victory today and another against Jimbo Wodusky's Maroon Knights on Friday to move on to the regional.

Ironically, it is the same situation the 11-5 Blue Dons faced a season ago en route to the small-school title.

''Honestly, Jimbo does a great job with that team, but I really feel like we left some plays on the field in two losses to them this year,'' Baire said. ''We know that we will have to play well on defense and take advantage of our opportunities to move on.''

Things began great for Madonna on Wednesday as it pushed across three runs in the first and two more in the top of the second to gain a 5-0 advantage. But the bottom of the second was nearly the Blue Dons' undoing.

A walk, sandwiched in between two hit batters, led to a three-run Chad Riedel double to deep right-center, cutting the deficit to 5-3. Kyle Gillis' single later plated Riedel to make it a 5-4 game.

Donahue (11-10) actually moved into a short-lived lead thanks to a pair of errors, a passed ball and Wylie Koontz's base hit that made it 6-5.

Unfortunately for Dan Angalich's squad, it managed two more baserunners the rest of the game and the Blue Dons were not even close to finished scoring.

The big blast, and what turned out to be the difference, was a three-run home run by No. 9 hitter Ross Comis in the third that put the Dons ahead 8-6, a lead they never surrendered.

A big key to the game for Weirton Madonna was the fact half of its 14 hits came with two strikes in the count, something Baire feels his team has gotten very good at accomplishing.

''We really have made a habit of doing that over the last couple of years,'' he said. ''These kids are just not intimidated when they get in that situation, and this year has not been any exception.

''Chris Perna really did a good job for us on the mound also. Due to our limited number of games we weren't able to get some kids the experience we would have liked, but Chris has been able to grab some innings on the mound the last few years and we went to him.

''True to form, his senior leadership showed through and he handled his business. He really battled through a tough second inning but was able to hold it together.

''Hopefully we can come back here on Thursday and force another game on Friday and see what happens.''

Perna finished with three strikeouts and two walks in gaining a victory while Tony Fuscardo recorded the final three outs in the seventh. In all, the Blue Dons set down 16 of the final 18 batters they saw.

''One good thing is that we got the bats on the ball, but to their credit they made some plays, especially at third and short,'' Angalich said. ''I think we could have had some great opportunities if not for their defense.

''And they were able to take advantage of our mistakes. We knew coming in that this was the toughest sectional in the state, and I really believe the winner here will have an outstanding shot at winning it all.''

Madonna 12, Bishop Donahue 6

Madonna 323 202 0 - 12 14 4

Bishop Donahue 060 000 0 - 6 3 6

MADONNA: Perna (WP, 3K, 2BB), T. Fuscardo (7th, 0K, 0BB) and Comis; Perna 2-1B, RBI, Linder 1B, 3B, Logan 3-1B, 2 RBI, L. Fuscardo 1B, 2 RBI, Ossman 2-1B, Comis 2B, HR, 4 RBI.

BISHOP DONAHUE: Whitfield (0K, 0BB), Ghaphery (2nd, LP, 1K, 1BB), Koontz (5th, 2K, 2BB, Cashe (7th, 1K, 0BB) and Overholt, Whitfield (5), Overholt (7); Riedel 2B, 3 RBI, Gillis 1B, RBI.

While some of the talk after Monday's West Virginia Class A sectional baseball opener, won 11-1 by Weirton Madonna in five innings, was the Blue Dons getting the big hit in key situations, a closer look reveals the Blue Dons had plenty of help.

Sure, Chris Duerr did rip a two-run triple in the first to score the first two runs, and later, Nick Ossman rapped a two-run single for the last two, but nearly everything else was gift-wrapped by the boys in green and gold.

Two of Madonna's runs scored on errors, another came on a bases-loaded walk and two more came in on sacrifice flies, meaning the big hits weren't always there.

''We struggled a little bit in the field and put our pitchers in a bind,'' Bishops coach Dan Angalich said. ''You can't give a team like Madonna more than three outs in an innning. And that's what we did.''

In the end, though, they all count the same and Madonna grabbed the upperhand in the sectional, while the Bishops are looking at battling their way out from the loser's bracket.

Madonna and Wheeling Central will play at 5 p.m. today back at the I-470 Complex.

''We wanted to come out, get a good start, put some runs on the board and see how (Bishop Donahue) would respond to that pressure,'' Madonna coach Jeff Baire said. ''We did a good job of that.''

Indeed.

With one out on the first, Chris Perna walked ahead of a Logan Linder being hit by a pitch.

An out later, Duerr, a right-hander, ripped his triple down the right-field line for the first two. Daniel Pietranton followed that with an RBI single to right.

The Bishops got one back in the bottom of the frame when Garrett Yurisko walked and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. But there were two on and two out when Madonna third baseman Ossman gloved a screaming liner to third by Zach Whitfield that could have tied the game had it gotten through.

''In the first inning, we had a shot,'' Angalich said.

Madonna then sent 10 to the plate in the second, though it had just three hits in the frame - all singles. In four consecutive at-bats, there was an error and three straight walks. And the inning ended on a double play.

Suddenly, Madonna led 9-1.

''There were some plays we could have made and we were having some control problems and gave them a few extra outs ... '' Angalich said.

''It's tough down 9-1 against a quality team like that.''

It stayed that way until the fifth, when Duerr and Nick Battista walked and were on when Ossman came through with his two-run single.

The Bishops loaded the bases in the top of the fifth but left all three there, part of a night in which it stranded nine.

''That was the difference,'' Angalich said.

Madonna 11, Bishop Donahue 1

Madonna 620 20 - 11 8 1

Bishop Donahue 100 00 - 1 4 2

MADONNA: Mogan (WP, 4K, 2BB), Bowser (5IP, 2K, 2BB) and Comis. Eloi 1B, RBI; Perni 2B, RBI; Duerr 3B, 2RBI; Pietranton 1B, RBI; Fuscardo RBI; Ossman 2-1B, 2RBI.

BISHOP DONAHUE: Whitfield (LP, 3K, 3BB), Ghaphery (1IP, 1K, 1BB), Koontz (1P, 0K, 0BB) and Overholt. Smith 2-1B.

"It was awesome," said Madonna interim head coach T.J. Brancazio, who filled in for Jeff Baire as he served a three-game suspension. "You have these kids who grew up together, in the same city, and its just a good win for us today."

The Red Riders' fast start began with Ryan Duke reaching base on an error. Josh Russell then connected on a Logan Linder delivery for a single that brought Duke in for the score. Cody Harmon plated Russell with a one-out run-scoring single.

Unfortunately for Weir, Linder struck out the side and gave up only one more hit the rest of the way.

"Linder threw a pretty good game," said Weir head coach Bill Magnone. "He shut us down hitting. All year long we just haven't been fielding or getting the hits when we need them."

Madonna tied the game in the bottom half of the first with a little 2-out lightning. Linder was hit by a pitch to reach first and Connor Mogan drove him in with a single. Mogan scored to tie the game at two when Chris Duerr reached on an error.

"We made too many mistakes," said Magnone. " They hit the ball well and we made too many mistakes."

The Blue Dons took the lead in the bottom of the second. Nick Ossman opened the inning with a single. Linder pushed him in when he grounded into a bases loaded fielders choice. It was the first of seven RBIs for the Madonna pitcher.

Madonna broke the game open in the third with a 7-run barrage. The innings major damage came first on an RBI double by Nick Battista and later on a 3-run blast by Linder that made the score 10-2 Blue Dons.

Linder secured the mercy rule finish. He set it up with a 3-run double in the bottom of the fourth that plated Battista, Ossman, and Nick Perna to make the score 13-2.

He finished it in the top of the fifth with a one-two-three inning that included a strikeout, flyout, and a groundout.

"They bounced back (from a 12-6 loss to Bishop Donahue earlier int he day), and they showed the character I know they have," said Brancazio.

"I think this is one step taking us to the sectional, and we'll be ready to play come Monday."

Madonna is scheduled to play at Hebron Lakewood in doubleheader today.

Madonna 13, Weir 2

Weir 200 00 - 2 3 3

Madonna 217 3x - 13 7 1

WEIR: Harmon (LP, 3K, 5BB), Knuutila, (3rd, K, 3BB), Russell (4th, 1K, 1BB) and Knuutila, Harmon (3); Russell 1B, RBI, Harmon 2-1B, RBI.

MADONNA: Linder (WP, 5K, 3BB) and Comis; Linder HR, 2B, 7 RBI, Mogan 1B, RBI, Battista 2B, 1B, RBI, Ossman 2-1B, Perna RBI.

Madonna falls to Bishops

WEIRTON - Madonna's first game of the day Friday at Edwin J. Bowman Field saw it fall to visiting Bishop Donahue 12-6 behind the strength of a six-run fifth inning by the Bishops.

Madonna held a 6-3 lead after four innings of play when Bishop Donahue's bats blew up combined with a number of fielding miscues by the Blue Dons. Madonna commited seven errors in all for the game.

Duerr had a big game at the plate for Madonna with a home run and two singles while knocking in four runs. Luca Fuscardo smashed a two-run roundtripper of his own.

Bishop Donahue 12, Madonna 6

Bishop Donahue 021 062 1 - 12 11 4

Madonna 105 000 0 - 6 9 7

BISHOP DONAHUE: Gaphery (WP, 1K, 1BB) and Overholt; Kurisko 1B, Smith 3-1B, 2 RBI, Gillis 1B, Koontz HR, 2B, 5 RBI, Angalich 2-2B, 1B, Overholt 1B.

MADONNA: Mogan (2K, 0BB), Battista (4th, LP, 2K, 2BB), Fuscardo (6th, 0K, 0BB) and Comis; Perna 2-1B, Linder 1B, Duerr HR, 2-1B, 4 RBI, Pietranton 1B, Fuscardo HR, 2 RBI, Comis 1B.

Wheeling Central beats Madonna

Staff Reports, Weirton Daily Times

Wheeling Central scored three runs in the first three innings while holding down Madonna's explosive offense. The Maroon Knights final four runs in the fourth and sixth inning proved too much.

Daniel Pietranton led the way with three singles for Madonna. Chris Perna and Chris Duerr each doubled.

The teams are preparing for the West Virginia Class A?Region 1, Section 1 Tournament that begins one week from Monday.

The Blue Dons host Shadyside Tuesday, visit Brooke Wednesday, welcome Linsly Thursday and play Weir Friday for the city championship.

Wheeling Central 7, Madonna 3

Madonna 000 201 0 - 3 9 0

Wheeling Central 102 301 x - 7 9 1

MADONNA (7-3): Mogan (LP,1K, 3BB), Fuscardo (4) (3K, 2BB) and Duerr; Perna 2B; Duerr 2B; Pietranton 3-1B; Fuscardo 2-1B.

WHEELING CENTRAL (9-5): Fullerton (WP, 1K, 1BB), Keys (6) (2K, 1BB) and Keane. Jarrett 2-1B; Ratcliffe 2B, 2rbi; Baker 2-1B, 3RBI.

"Obviously Chris Duerr had a big game for us," said Blue Dons coach Jeff Baire. "He's really seeing the ball well right now. He's hit the ball well from the beginning."

Madonna's Chris Eloi walked in the bottom of the first and, with one out, Connor Mogan reached on an error and Duerr brought them in with his first blast. Nick Battista doubled in the bottom of the second. Eloi and Chris Perna walked to load the sacks. Starting pitcher Logan Linder helped his cause with a two-RBI single. Mogan collected an RBI on a groundout and Duerr the deposited his second shot over the fence for two more RBIs.

"We dug ourselves an early hole," said Red Knights coach Brian Perkins. "Our kids chipped away and we were back in it and we had an opportunity to get a big hit to really get back into the game, but it just didn't work out for us."

Toronto's Tyler Butler was hit by a pitch to start the fourth inning. Trevor Cooper singled and Spenser Sninchak roped a three-run homer for an 8-3 deficit.

Linder started the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run. One out later, Duerr laced an 0-2 pitch over the fence for the hat trick.

Daniel Pietranton then doubled and scored on Battista's single.

"Logan came in throwing strikes and we played good defense behind him," said Baire. "We swung the bats well and that's a recipe for success any day of the week.

"Our problem is we just need to get out on the field more often."

Linder finished with six strikeouts and three walks.

With two out in the top of the fifth, Tyler Owens singled and scored on Butler's double. He came home on Cooper's single. Sninchak singled and Austin Lucas walked to load the bases. Linder exited the jam with a ground out.

Toronto threatened again in the top of the sixth. With one out, John Marriner walked and Chase Takacs and Owens singled to load the bases again.

This time, Linder got out of the jam with a double play ball.

"They're a good ballteam," said Perkins. "Hopefully we'll meet them down the road somewhere."

Madonna 14, Toronto 5

Toronto 000 320 0 - 5 8 0

Madonna 350 303 x - 14 15 1

TORONTO: Sninchak (LP, 0K, 4BB), King (2nd, 3K, 1BB), Owens (6th, 0K, 0BB) and Butler; Takacs 1B; Owens 2-1B; Butler 2B, RBI; Sninchak HR, 1B, 3RBI; Cooper 2-1B.

MADONNA: Linder (WP, 6K, 3BB), Bowser (7th, 2K, 2BB) and Duerr; Perna 1B; Linder 3-1B, HR, 3RBI; Mogan 1B; 3-HR, 6RBI; Pietranton 1B, 2B; Fuscardo 1B; Battista 2B, 1B; Ossman 1B, RBI.

Madonna then fell to Charleston Catholic. Fuscardo remained hot and posted three singles. Nicholas Battista singled twice and Mogan belted a double.

Despite the lag in active game participation, Madonna's bats were alive as the Dons defeated the Maroon Knights 10-2. Both teams will travel to Parkersburg today for weekend tournament play.

"I was very happy with the way we played," Madonna coach Jeff Baire commented. "These guys were getting frustrated with being in the gym. They have been a little lackadaisical over the past couple days. I told them that coming into today, and here was their opportunity. We were finally out on the field. I wanted them to show me that they deserved me letting them go a little bit.

"They hit the ball well. We played relatively solid defensively. Logan (Linder) threw a great game. We got the hits we needed and took advantage of the few mistakes they made."

Wheeling Central drew first blood after Madonna had already secured two outs in the opening frame. P.J. Ratcliffe reached first base courtesy of a walk. Multiple throwing errors found Wheeling Central's center fielder on third base. Joey Baker singled to bring Ratcliffe home for a 1-0 advantage.

Madonna quickly found itself in the same situation as Wheeling Central previously did. The Dons had two outs to open the bottom of the first with no runners on base. Linder came to the plate batting third in Madonna's lineup. As the count read 2-1, Linder exploded through the baseball and it sailed over the left-center field fence for a home run to tie the contest 1-1.

Linder was also on the mound and eventually became the winning pitcher of note with seven strikeouts. He registered two RBIs while at the plate.

The Dons were not finished in the inning. Connor Mogan doubled after Linder's blast. A balk by Wheeling Central's pitcher sent the base runner to third. Chris Duerr singled and Mogan trotted 90-feet to give the Dons a 2-1 lead.

"We do an awful lot of live throwing," Baire detailed. "It's not like they are not used to seeing pitches, but they are still high school kids. When they get out on the ballfield, you never know exactly what is going to happen.

"They've been working hard. They have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder."

Wheeling Central responded. Joel Jarrett opened the top of the second inning with a double. He was brought home by another double courtesy of the designated hitter, Michael Zavolta. The Maroon Knights knotted the score at two apiece, but it was the last runs the team scored.

Six runs were scored in the third and fourth innings by Madonna.

"We have to learn from the mistakes we made," Wheeling Central coach Jimbo Wodusky commented. "We made several. They are a very good team. When you make certain little mistakes, and I'm not even talking about the errors - pitchers not locating balls and batters getting down in the count watching good pitches go by - a good hitting team is going to make you pay."

The Blue Dons' scoring spree began with a Chris Eloi home run. The center field sign at Bowman Field reads 350 feet. Eloi's shot floated 351 feet to straight away center. Linder scored again in the third inning after receiving a walk, advancing with a stolen base, and then reaching home via error.

Four tallies were added in the fourth. Tory Fuscardo doubled, the first of two on the day, and eventually scored. Eloi was hit by a pitch. Linder doubled to bring a run home. Mogan then doubled for a second time as two runners passed the plate. Finally, a Daniel Pietranton single brought Mogan home for a commanding 8-2 lead.

Chris Perna hit a sac fly in the fifth inning for the last earned run of the ballgame in Madonna's favor. The final score read 10-2.

"It's way too early to worry about it," Wodusky finished. "We are a veteran club. Hopefully the true leaders will step up and take control."

Madonna 10, Wheeling Central 2

Wheeling Central 110 000 0 - 2 6 2

Madonna 202 420 0 - 10 10 0

WHEELING CENTRAL (2-4): Baker (LP, 1K, 2BB); Jarrett (1IP, 0K, 1BB); Fullerton (2IP, 1K, 1BB) and Biega. Taylor 1B; Ratcliffe 1B; Baker 1B, RBI; Jarrett 2B; Fullerton 1B; Zavolta 2B.

Linsly took round one, staying undefeated with a 7-5 victory Tuesday at Holloway Field behind six strong innings from Matt Smith and some timely hitting.

''Our pitching was very solid,'' Cartwright said. ''Matt came out and threw well and he needed to because (Madonna) is a good-hitting ballclub. They came out and swung the bats.

''Defensively, we are not quite there yet. We made some mistakes that we are not going to be able to make down the line, but it's early and it's a veteran group of kids and I like their competitiveness. They keep coming after it and that is the key, especially against good clubs like Weirton Madonna.''

The weather hasn't helped a Madonna team that lost six starters from its championship squad to get into much of a rhythm. Tuesday's game was just the first since a season-opening, 17-3 victory against rival Weir.

The Blue Dons started fast, staking to a 2-0 lead in the second inning off a solo home run from Connor Mogan and an RBI single from Ross Comis in the freshman's first varsity at-bat.

The Cadets (5-0) didn't take long to respond, showing they can swing the bats as well. Derek Miller hit a three-run home run to center that ricocheted off the scoreboard to put Linsly on top.

''Derek Miller is a senior guy, four-year letterwinner and a huge part of this program,'' Cartwright said. ''That was big for us. It was a real clutch, solid swing on the ball that got us the lead for the first time and we were able to hang on. Teams like (Madonna) don't beat themselves, you have to have to beat them.''

Chris Perna took the ball in the fourth inning for the Blue Dons (1-1) and after two quick groundouts to second baseman Ryan Mozingo, things took a turn for the worse.

Jon-Michael Brunner lined a shot up the middle to keep the inning going. Alex Stephens hit a grounder to Madonna shortstop Nick Battista. Battista, who played second until that inning when Perna shifted from shortstop to the mound, shorthopped the throw and first baseman Anthony Fulmer was unable to pick it. The misplay allowed Brunner and Stephens to move into scoring position.

Leighton Gibson made the Blue Dons pay for the error with a hard-hit single that scored both runs as Linsly went ahead 5-2.

Madonna closed the gap in the sixth inning with two runs as Daniel Pietranton and Fulmer each had sacrifice flies to score Chris Eloi and Mogan, respectively. But with the tying run standing on second base, Smith caught Chris Duerr off second base to end the inning.

''We definitely made some bonehead mistakes that we need to clean up,'' Baire said. ''We wind up losing by those two runs on (the fourth-inning throwing error).

''Against a quality Linsly team, for us to come out and play as young as we did, starting two freshmen, I was impressed with the way we handled ourselves in adverse situations. I was really impressed with the way we battled back.

''This is only our second game and there are going to be some jitters for guys that aren't used to playing varsity baseball. Linsly is going to be phenomenal and we are going to have to be at our best when we play teams like this.''

Linsly got those two runs back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Stephens and an RBI single from Miller, his fourth RBI.

Brunner closed out the victory, striking out two, walking one and allowing an unearned run.

For Linsly, it was the first time in five games the Cadets were held to less than 10 runs.

''We are going to be a solid offensive club and we are going to make some pitchers work,'' Cartwright said. ''We have some kids that can hit the ball. I'm optimistic but we still have a ways to go. But when you hit the ball, you are always in the games and it is a lot of fun to coach these kids. They love to swing.''

Linsly 7, Madonna 5

Madonna 020 002 1 - 5 6 1

Linsly 003 202 x - 7 8 3

MADONNA: Morgan (1K, 2BB), Perna (4) (LP, 1K, 0BB), Ossman (6) (1K, 2BB), Eloi (6) (0K, 2BB) and Duerr. Mogan 2B, HR, RBI; Duerr 2B; Pietranton RBI; Comis 1B, RBI; Fulmer 1B, RBI.

The Blue Dons, still sans a few basketball players, went down 1-2-3 in the top of the first inning before scoring three in the second, four in the third and nine in the fourth, sending 27 batters to the plate in the three innings.

Logan Linder earned the victory for the defending West Virginia Class A state champions. He went four innings, striking out six and walking a pair. Freshman Luca Fuscardo closed the game, fanning two and walking one.

Zach Knuutila took the loss in 2 innings. He struck out three and walked three. Connor Addison came in and walked two and struck out one before Jeremy Swartzmiller finished on the bump.

Anthony Fulmer ripped a two-run homer for Madonna in the top of the second. Teammate Chris Duerr jacked a three-run blast one inning later.

The Blue Dons scored nine times after sending 13 batters to the dish in the fourth.

They did so on four singles, two hit batters, a pair of walks, three Red Riders errors and a groundout.

The Red Riders collected their first hit when Cody Harmon began the bottom of the fourth inning. Evan Harris and Addison followed with singles and a Knuutila double scored Harris.

Swartzmiller's groundout plated Addison.

Weir (2-1) finished with those four hits.

Weir 000 30 - 3 4 10

WEIR (2-1): Knuutila (LP, 2.1, 3K, 3BB), Addison (3rd, 1K, 2BB), Swartzmiller (5th, 1K, 2BB) and Harmon, Knuutila (3); Harmon 1B; Harris 1B; Addison 1B, RBI; Knutilla 2B, RBI; Swartzmiller RBI.

Max concurred with his brother, noting the historical significance of winning a football and baseball state title in the same school year, while also adding a state wrestling title himself. ''It just feels great,'' he said. ''It legitimizes that this is one of the greatest years in Madonna sports and maybe one of the best years ever in the state. I couldn't be happier for my teammates and my family.''

While the contest certainly ended well for the Dons, things didn't start the way they had scripted. Man got on the board first, as Jordan Simpson hit a double and eventually crossed the plate on an errant throw to give the Hillbillies a 1-0 lead.Things started to get scary for the Madonna when, in the third inning, Man added two more runs to its lead, as Eddie Nogay walked across two runs. Although it had a 3-0 lead, Man had registered just one base hit.''Eddie had his inning where it was rough,'' Baire said. ''We felt like a couple of those pitches could have gone either way. Unfortunately, they went against Eddie and they were able to get a couple of runs in.''

Nogay felt that he may have become flustered during the third, but credited his teammates for giving him sage advice. ''I started losing grip a little bit and I felt like I was throwing in the dirt,'' he noted. ''I got a little wild and a little overwhelmed for a minute. But, our catcher Lou Comis calmed me down a lot and my brother had some good advice for me.'' The score remained 3-0 through the fourth inning, but Comis had a feeling the Blue Dons offense would eventually come around. ''We were blasting the ball and we were hitting line drives right at people, a little like (Friday),'' Comis said. ''It almost made you think that maybe it isn't meant to be.'' Just as in the semifinal, the Madonna offense finally found its groove late in the game. In the top of the fifth inning, the Dons began to work Man starting pitcher Simpson.The one-out rally started when Austin Pitchok singled, followed by a Max Nogay double to drive in the Blue Dons' first run. Logan Linder connected on an RBI single before Comis stepped to the plate and drilled a two-run shot over the left-field fence. Suddenly, Madonna owned a 4-3 lead. ''I just focused in and put good swings on the ball,'' Comis said. ''On the one (Saturday), I was actually down in the count 1-2. He just put one over the plate and I got a good swing on it. ''I didn't really think that one was gone. I was in a dead sprint to first base when I heard the crowd cheer. So, it was awesome.'' The homer marked the second for Comis in as many days. But, the Dons' rally wasn't finished there. After Connor Mogan reached base on an error, Eddie Nogay helped his own cause, smacking another two-run home run over the left-field wall to increase the Madonna advantage to 6-3. ''I came to the plate and I was a little frustrated in the fourth inning,'' Eddie Nogay said. ''I hit a double in that inning and then struck out the side. Then, I had the home run, so I think that this was all a part of God's master plan. You get a little frustrated, you focus in and realize that this is your last performance as a high-school athlete. ''We needed to get the job done and I'm grateful that it went the way it did and everything happens for a reason.''

Baire had a feeling that his offense would eventually come around. ''We left a lot of guys stranded and it started to feel like it was last year,'' he noted. ''But, we felt like if we continued to have the good approaches at the plate, swinging the bat the way we had been early, those hard-hit balls were going to find a way to drop in. ''Sure enough, they did. We just felt like we had to put pressure on them and see if they can handle playing with the pressure. Fortunately for us, we were able to keep enough pressure on them that they finally caved.''

Max Nogay has seen a trend with this Madonna team. ''We've been doing that all year,'' he said. ''We will wait around and then push on the pedal. We put the six runs up and then we just kept pouring it on from there.''

With the lead in hand, the Madonna pitching staff did the rest. Out of innings for the tournament, Baire took out Nogay in favor of Linder in the sixth inning. Linder kept the momentum going, holding Man at bay and preserving the lead. ''That speaks about the way that those two guys threw,'' Baire said. ''I sort of had a feeling the first time I talked to Eddie (Saturday) when we got up that he was pretty locked in and that he was going to have a good day. Sure enough, he did. ''Logan, for just being a sophomore, plays well beyond his years. He is going to be a special one down the road. Eddie has been doing this for three years and it is what I've grown to expect out of him.''

Madonna added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning, as Pitchok knocked in two runs. Linder did the rest, recording the final out on a dribbler back to the mound which the pitcher threw to first baseman Ryan Mendenhall, sending the Madonna faithful into celebration.

Eddie Nogay was rewarded with a victory, striking out five and walking four in five innings of work. His brother was not surprised at the dominance on the mound. ''Eddie threw a great game,'' Max said. ''He is our ace, hands down. He is going to Washington & Jefferson next year and he is going to do great. I love him and I couldn't be any more proud of him.'' Eddie discussed the accomplishments of the 2010 Madonna senior class. ''A lot of people say that guys are like their brothers, but these guys are my brothers,'' he said. ''I couldn't do anything without them. They've had my back throughout the whole four years and I hope that I have had their backs. ''They are the most tremendous athletes that I have ever competed with and I am truly honored to be a part of this team. The career that we've had at Madonna is just unfathomable. It is inexplicable the satisfaction that we've had to perform at this level for this amount of years and to go out on top in our senior year.''

Madonna finishes its championship season with a 25-7 record.

W.Va. Class A State Final

Weirton Madonna 8, Man 3

Weirton Madonna000 060 2 - 8 13 3

Man102 000 0 - 3 3 3

W - E.Nogay wp (5SO, 4W), Linder (6) (1SO, 1W) and Comis.

The Blue Dons launched two home runs and a double that hit the top of the wall as the team piled up seven hits and six runs in the top of the fifth inning on their way to an 8-3 victory over the Hillbillies at Appalachian Power Park. Saturday's fifth inning resembled Madonna's five-run outburst in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday that sent its semifinal game against East Hardy into extra innings, where the Blue Dons eventually came out on top. Eddie Nogay, the winning pitcher and hitter of a two-run blast on Saturday, said that Friday's offensive explosion carried into the title game.

"I think it started last night in the seventh inning," Nogay said. "We realized the more you hit, the easier it is to win. If you score runs, you can't lose. You can't lose if you outhit the other team." Early on, it looked as if that exact thing would happen to the Blue Dons. The Hillbillies (26-11) scored all three of their runs in the first three innings, with only one hit on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Madonna tallied four hits but was held scoreless through the first four innings.

Nogay and the Madonna defense contributed as much to the Man offense as the Hillbillies' bats did. Man was able to load the bases in the third inning on two errors by Blue Dons third baseman Austin Pitchock and a walk by Nogay. Duke Vance and Evan Riggins each drew a walk with the bases loaded, bringing in two runs and putting Nogay on the ropes. But Tyler Grimmett popped out to the catcher to end the threat, and as it would turn out, the scoring for Man. Nogay tossed five innings and gave up three runs (one earned) on one hit and four walks and struck out five, including the side in the fourth. Both coaches agreed that his performance was a huge key to the game. "It's what we've come to expect out of Eddie in the three years he's been here," said Madonna coach Jeff Baire. "He has over 20 wins and five losses in his career. This was a typical Eddie outing, it's what we expect of him."

"He was effectively wild I guess you could say," said Man coach Larry Vance. "We scored three runs and had only one hit, but at the time there were probably six or seven walks in there. But [Nogay] battled back. He threw two innings yesterday and came out in this heat and threw five again today. He battled back and did what he needed to do as a senior to get his team to where they're at right now."

Where the Blue Dons are right now is a pretty familiar place. Madonna defeated Man in the Class A football state championship game in the fall, but even as the trophies pile up, Nogay insists that winning titles never gets old.