Had the Weatherly baseball team started its game with visiting Shenandoah Valley on a better note, the outcome may have been more favorable.

But the Blue Devils unloaded with a flurry of rallies in the first five innings, then seemed to put it in neutral and tried coasting to the finish line.

Shenandoah never seemed to be stressed in its 11-5 Schuylkill League Division 3 win on Wednesday afternoon, but Weatherly did show plenty of fight.

With Shenandoah leading by 11 runs and on the verge of a mercy-rule victory, the Wreckers had a late rally in the home fifth to score three runs and extend the game.

They added two more runs in the sixth before the Devils finally shut the door.

Owen Kosar had a monster afternoon for Shenandoah, going 5-for-5, driving in five runs and doubling.

“He is such a tough out,” Weatherly manager Brain Kaminski said about Kosar. “He is a tough guy to pitch around, and when he is leading off that makes it even more difficult.”

Kosar scored the first run for his team when he smacked a single to left and came around to score on a Brady Najda fielder’s choice out.

Shenandoah chased Weatherly starter Yasin Zuberi in the second inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and lashing five hits to increase the lead to 7-0. Starting and winning pitcher Kaleb Maksimik aided his cause with an RBI single. Kosar drove in two runners with a double, Nick Ryan punched out a double and single in the inning, and Nick Mikita singled home a run.

“To be honest, we should have put it away earlier, but to Weatherly’s credit, they hung in,” Shenandoah manager Jeff Maksimik said. “We had our chances to score more, but they did a nice job of making plays and getting outs.”

Kaleb Maksimik, the nephew of the Shenandoah manager, was getting outs with his slick curve and sneaky fastball. Maksimik, a shrewd southpaw, allowed just two hits during his four-inning stint, singles to Antonio Colecio and Giuseppe Cavelo. Kaleb registered seven strikeouts and one walk.

“Yes, he did a really nice job,” said the winning manager. “He had control most of the time. We have two more games this week (Panther Valley and MMI), so we need some arms.”

Shenandoah made it 8-0 in the third when Kosar singled and rode home on a Luke Matta double down the left field line that nearly went yard hitting the top of the fence. The Devils proceeded to score three more runs in the fifth to put the game on the verge of ending.

Not folding its tent, however, Weatherly hung around and pushed across a three spot in the home fifth aided by three Devils errors, a sacrifice fly by Colecio, and singles off the bats of Ben Ramirez and Zuberi.

Weatherly came back with another rally scoring twice in the sixth when three walks loaded the bases for Colecio, who drilled a double to deep center.

“We battled and took advantage of the pitchers they had to bring in,” Kaminski explained about the late-inning eruption. “We’re a young bunch, but we’re back playing, and I’m pretty happy about that.”

HOT SPRING

… Kosar has been hitting near .700 for the Devils this spring.

WRECKER WACKERS

… Weatherly collected five hits on the day. Covelo had a double, while Jack Jones, Zuberi, Ramirez, and Colecio all added singles.

WEB GEMS

… Both teams’ corner infielders made some tough plays. Ramirez had two very nice plays at third for the Wreckers, while third baseman Luke Matta and brother Jake Matta at first base were both strong with the glove for Shenandoah.

Shenandoah 161 300 0 - 11 13 4

Weatherly 000 032 0 - 5 5 2

Maksimik, Mikita (5), Najda (6) and Vivasis; Zuberi, James (2), Ramirez (6) and Colecio. W - Maksimik. L - Zuberi.