Will Bartel’s hitting philosophy isn’t that complicated.

And on Friday, it proved to be spot-on.

Weatherly used a combination of hits and walks to plate 18 runs in the third inning to earn an 18-1 non-league victory over host Jim Thorpe in both team’s season opener.

“That’s the one thing I preach - contact,” said the Wreckers’ head coach. “Put a ball in play, make people move around, make them catch it, make them throw it. It’s not rocket science, and I’m certainly not a rocket scientist. It’s simple. Put the ball in play and make them do something.

“We started (the third) at the top of the lineup and then everyone just hit. It just turned on. Everybody chipped in. Everybody hit. Everybody put balls in play and did their jobs and I’m happy about that. That’s the one thing I always try to stress - put the ball in play.”

Trailing 1-0 after two innings despite threatening to score in both of the opening frames, Weatherly (1-0) put everything together in the third.

Alexis Colecio started the uprising with a hit, which was followed by a bunt single by Ashley James. Amanda Colecio looped a hit to left to plate the tying run, and two batters later Kelly Michaels delivered an RBI single to push home the go-ahead run.

After the Olympians (0-1) recorded the second out of the inning, Bethany Houser came through with a two-run single. No. 9 hitter Adrianna Dotzel then followed with a two-run triple to right to up the advantage to 6-1.

“We have solid players, but I’ve told them since Day 1 of conditioning that if we do not get a contribution from everyone who is in that day, we won’t compete,” said Bartel. “Everybody has to chip in, and today everybody did something at some point to get us off in the right direction.”

Nine consecutive walks and a couple of errors in the inning allowed the run total to expand, giving pitcher Madyson VonFrisch more than enough support.

Thorpe manufactured a run in the second inning off the sophomore hurler as Nadya Soliman walked, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on an error, but that was all the Olympians could muster off the righty, who struck out four and didn’t allow a hit.

“Outside of scrimmages, this is the first time that she’s faced varsity hitters,” said Bartel. “She did fine. My catcher (is a senior and she) keeps her under wraps. She’s solid and I think we’ll be able to stay in games with her.”

The Olympians, meanwhile, will try to put this game behind them and focus on the future.

“I was very happy with the start of the game,” said Thorpe mentor Lori Lienhard. “It was 0-0 and we scored in the second inning ... We just weren’t hitting the ball, not like I know we can hit. We’ll chalk some of this up to first-day jitters. We’re going to come back tomorrow strong and hopefully turn things around.”

HITTING STARS ... Weatherly leadoff hitter Alexis Colecio had two hits, one a double, and scored three runs. Michaels also finished with a pair of hits and two RBIs, while Dotzel knocked in three runs. The Wreckers had 22 plate appearances in the third inning, and their hitters only struck out once in the contest. Everyone in the lineup reached base and scored at least one run.

HAPPY TO PLAY ... After missing last season, Bartel was quick to point out that just playing was a bonus. “It was nice to get off on the right foot,” he said, “but No. 1 we’re just happy that we’re playing. COVID stole everybody’s season last year, and stole a year from these kids. It’s just great to get back on the field.”

BACK ON THE FIELD ... Jim Thorpe returns to action today when it hosts Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg, while Weatherly hosts Lourdes on Monday.

Weatherly 00(18) - 18 9 1

Jim Thorpe 01 0 - 1 0 2

VonFrisch and Al. Colecio; Goodchild, Day (3), Rohrman (3) and Mahmde. W - VonFrisch. L - Goodchild.