By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Power and Patience.

Those two qualities were on hand Friday when Saint Joseph’s Academy traveled to Bald Eagle in the season opener for both teams.

Using a mid-season eye for balls and strikes, the Eagles made the most of its patience at the plate as it ended the game with nine walks while also posting three home runs to take the Wolves 17-6 in a 5-inning contest.

“I was very pleased today. We saw the biggest variety of pitching. Throughout the season with the competition we’ll face. We’re going to see a pitcher throw 85-miles and hour and we’re going to see the guy throwing 65. It’s all about making adjustments throughout the game,” said Bald Eagle coach Jim Gardner. “Which I feel we did pretty good at.”

Leading the offense was winning pitcher and later DH McGwire Heverly.

Heverly just missed hitting for the cycle. He needed a triple to complete the fete as well. He ended up with five RBIs in the contest.

Others posting home run were Cam Watkins and Hayden Vaughn.

Saint Joseph was led offensively by Jason Dreibelbis who went 2-for-3 2RBIs and a run.

Taking to the mound in the first, Heverly made quick work of the Wolves striking out the side. Heverly would finish his night on the mound with nine strike outs in four innings of work.

Bald Eagle took an early lead in the bottom of the first, posting three runs.

Alex Gavlock got the inning steadied for the Eagles as he smoked a bouncer past the third baseman.

Vaughn followed on base when he was hit by a pitch.

Heverly helped his own cause as he roped a 2-RBI double, giving the home team an early 3-0 advantage going into the second.

Standing on third base after advancing on a wild pitch, Heverly, ran his way to home plate via another wild pitch.

The Eagles went into the second with a slim 3-run lead.

Back battled the Wolves in the top of the second.

With one out, Thomas Delahoy led things off with a walk. He was replaced on the base paths by Katie Pace.

Teammate Luke Duckworth followed with a walk of his own.

With two outs, Arte Welsh put his team on the board hitting a slow fly that landed in the grass, scoring Pace and Duckworth.

Anthony Fisher kept the inning alive as he walked. Dreibelbis scored both Fisher and Welsh, taking ahold of the lead at 4-3. When the dust settled, the Wolves had battle their way back to take a short-lived 5-3.

The bats came alive in the second, Bald Eagle exploded for a 9-run inning.

With opening walks to Cam Watkins and Ethan Koleno the stage was being set for Kahale Burns. Burns picked up a simple RBI as he hit a soft sacrifice fly ball, tying things at five.

Alex Gavlock joined Koleno on base, putting runners on first and second for Vaughn. Vaughn launched a screamer that sailed over left centerfield for the 3-run round tripper.

Heverly was hit by a pitch and later was joined on base by Tyler Serb and Ryan Kresovich via two consecutive base-on-balls.

Quick added two more the the Eagles’ scoring column roping a 2-RBI single.

Watkins and Ethan Koleno showed patience at the plate as well.

Ending the scoring was Burns who brought home two on a single.

From there, the Eagles got a strong effort from McGwire and then relief pitcher Wyatt Cokely.

The Eagles’ defense allowed only one more run in the contest.

The Eagles ended the game with a 3RBI double by Burns.

Bald Eagle Area 17, Saint Joseph Academy 6 (5 inn.)

SJA 050 10x x –  6   5 1

BEA 390 13x x -17 12 0

WP – McGwire Heverly

LP – Chris Forstmeier

Multiple hitters: Saint Joesph’s – Jason Dreibelbis 2-for-3 2RBIs, run. Bald Eagle Area – Kahale Burns 3-for-4 4RBIs, Alex Gavlock 2-for-3 2RBIs, 2 runs, McGwire Heverly 3-for-3 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 runs, Parker Quick 2-for-3 2RBIs, 2 runs.

HR: SJA – None. BEA – Cam Watkins, Hayden Vaughn and Heverly.

Triple: None

Double: SJA – Thomas Delahoy. BEA – Kahale Burns, Heverly, Quick.