Photo | Paul Adkins

Photo | Paul Adkins

Logan first baseman Adam Mareske (15) tags out the Ripley runner at first base on pitcher Cody Frye’s pickoff move.

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Paul Adkins

Sports Editor

Alex Mareske went deep, Cody Frye didn’t allow a run and the Logan High School baseball team sunk the Ripley Vikings.

That about summed it up as the Wildcats won 10-0 over Ripley on Friday night at Roger Gertz Field.

Logan improved to 13-3 on the season, while the Vikings dropped below the .500 mark at 9-10.

The game was stopped after six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Logan, ranked No. 7 in the state in Class AAA, ended the game early in the bottom of the sixth as Mareske singled, stole second, went to third on a ground out to second by pinch-hitter Alex Lakatos and scored on Trent Dalton’s walk-off, RBI single up the middle to account for the 10th run.

Mareske had a big night for Logan as he was 4-for-4 with a solo homer, three singles and three RBI.

Logan coach Roger Gertz said he was pleased with the win and with Mareske’s night.

“Alex is hitting the ball well. He had two good hits last night, too,” Gertz said. “He started out very slow but he’s starting to hit the ball well. We need his stick in there. When he hits it he creates a lot of back-spin on it even with these bats.”

Andrew Staton, Justin Oney and Codie Doss had two hits each for the Wildcats.

“Oney is also hitting the ball well. He had two good hits tonight and two good hits last night,” Gertz said. “Staton is also really hitting the ball well. He’s getting a chance to play and he’s making the most of it. He’s doing a good job. He’s a good athlete and he’s hitting the ball hard. He also gives us added speed. It was also good for Codie Doss, who laid down a good bunt. He then had a sharp base hit to left.”

On the mound, the right-hander Frye pitched the shutout win. He allowed no runs and five hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

“He was only going on three day’s rest and that was a worry to us,” Gertz said. “Our pitching is a little bit thin. We thought that Matthew Greene was going to give us some innings this year. He has thrown some but hurt his arm. He’s throwing good again now. We had him throwing in the bullpen tonight during the JV game. We’ve got to get some innings out of him.”

Logan took a 1-0 lead on Ripley in the bottom of the first as freshman shortstop Z. Minnick drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Then in the bottom of the fourth, Mareske ripped a solo shot to left to make it 2-0 Logan.

The Wildcats would then plate two more runs in the frame.

Oney singled to right center, Dalton was safe on a Viking error and Doss had a bunt single to load up the bases with just one out.

Then it was Staton, who drilled a sharp liner to left, scoring two more runs to make it a 4-0 ballgame.

Logan then had a big five-run fifth to up the margin to 9-0.

Minnick led off with a high pop up to the mound, which was dropped by the Ripley third baseman, allowing him to take second on the two-base error.

Benji Adkins then walked, setting the table for Mareske, who then clubbed a two-run single past the Ripley shortstop into center field, making the score 6-0 Wildcats.

Mareske later stole third and jogged home on a wild pitch by the Vikings as Logan led 7-0.

Oney then reached with an infield single ahead of Doss, who grounded an RBI single to left past the Ripley shortstop, increasing the lead to 8-0.

Adam Mareske walked and Staton lined out softly to second but the Wildcats were not done in the fifth inning as pinch-hitter Trace Butcher drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run, making the score 9-0 Logan.

Dalton’s RBI single in the sixth then ended the game.

Jamin Jones doubled twice for the Vikings.

Ripley had three errors in the game to just one for Logan.

Several Ripley fans, traveling down U.S. 119, were late for the game due to a major traffic jam in the Madison area. Due to construction, rush hour traffic and just one southbound lane, fans were delayed up to two hours along the highway in the 6-mile construction zone.

Logan was scheduled to host Greenbrier East and Winfield on Saturday, weather permitting. The Cats then host Class AAA sectional foe South Charleston on Monday at 7 p.m. before hosting their other sectional rival, George Washington, on Tuesday at 7 p.m.