Charleston Catholic baserunner Mikaden Hale (26) slides into third base safely ahead of the tag from Austin McDonald following a rundown during Monday’s game in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

WILLIAMSTOWN – The unknown took shape on both sides for Monday’s baseball game between Charleston Catholic and Williamstown.

For Williamstown, a busy weekend took a toll on the pitching staff so the Yellowjackets turned to sophomore Jackson Melonas.

For Charleston Catholic, the Irish were limited to one game last week due to restrictions in their diocese which does not allow the team to play during Holy Week.

Something had to give, and unfortunately for the Yellowjackets the Irish showed no rust at the plate – pounding out 13 hits, including a seven-run, fifth-inning barrage which included Zaden Ranson’s first high school grand slam and Jaxon Kimble’s first homer as a member of Charleston Catholic.

Charleston Catholic starting pitcher Jonah DiCocco was his usual dominant self and barely surpassed 50 pitches as the Irish defeated Williamstown 14-1 in five innings.

Williamstown’s Jackson Melonas (33), Ty Ott (29) and catcher Wyatt Siley have a silent moment prior to the start of Monday’s game with Charleston Catholic in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Williamstown, ranked No 8 in the latest West Virginia Metro Power Rankings for Class AA, slipped to 10-8. Charleston Catholic, ranked No. 7 in Class AA, improved to 10-5.

“Charleston Catholic really got going – they have an excellent ballclub,” said Williamstown assistant Mark Adkins speaking on behalf of head coach Levi Maxwell who had to leave for personal reasons immediately after the postgame talk with his players.

“They were just in a groove tonight,” Adkins said. “DiCocco is one of the best pitchers in the state. Of course, we are always disappointed when we can’t put more balls in play, and can’t score more runs.

“Tip your cap to him, He was spinning it well tonight.”

DiCocco closed out the complete-game victory, allowing just two hits and striking out nine. He did not allow a walk – although he nearly issued a free pass to Austin McDonald as the count went full with one out in home half of the fifth inning. On the very next pitch, he recorded his third strikeout looking then induced a harmless pop out to himself for the final out as part of seven straight batters he retired to end the game.

Williamstown batter Ty Ott reacts to a pitch following a check swing during Monday’s game with Charleston Catholic at Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“We had a complete game – I’m proud of the boys,” Charleston Catholic coach Will Bobinger said. “Because our diocese won’t let us play during Easter Holy Week, there was kind of a question mark as far as how the offense would respond.

“I know Williamstown played in a tournament this past weekend and used most of their starting pitching, so they were a little bit down in their pitching rotation. I told the boys they had to take advantage – that they can’t try to do too much with it. We were able to put three runs up there in the first inning. Everybody was hitting down the lineup, so I was extremely happy with the way they performed.”

The top two hitters in the Irish lineup set the tone from the outset as Luke Blaydes doubled and Xander Allara followed with a base hit. After a walk loaded the bases, Ranson hit into a fielder’s choice to drive home the first run of the game. That marked the only at bat Ranson failed to produce a base hit.

With runners on the corners, Connor Jarvis doubled home two runs to extend the Irish lead to 3-0.

Williamstown nearly came up with an answer in the home half of the first when Ty Ott singled with two outs and advanced to second base on the game’s only error. A pop fly into shallow left field caught by the Irish shortstop ended the threat.

Williamstown pitcher Jackson Melonas delivers a pitch during Monday’s game against Charleston Catholic. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Melonas, who lasted four innings, posted a zero in the second inning then received quite a scare when DiCocco ripped a comebacker back to the mound which knocked Melonas off his feet. The ball ricocheted just beyond the infield into right field. Melonas was checked out by both the coaches and trainer and returned to the hill.

The Irish kept the line moving with a Ranson single. Kimble’s infield grounder brought home one run and Damon Master singled home another. With two outs, Danny Linton doubled over the center fielder’s head and put the Irish in front 6-0.

That same inning, Williamstown scored its only run. With two outs and bases cleared, Wyatt Powell was hit by a pitch. Next up, Parker Schramm sent a missile to the left field fence for an RBI double. That hit marked the last baserunner allowed by DiCocco.

Ranson’s RBI double in the fourth inning was the final run allowed before Melonas exited in place of Tyler Coleman.

In the fifth inning, Charleston Catholic sent 11 men to the plate in a seven-run outburst. Kimble started the frame with a no-doubter just inside the foul pole beyond the left field fence. The junior credited the school’s weight training program the increase in strength this season.

Williamstown pitcher Jackson Melonas is knocked to the ground on a comebacker hit by Charleston Catholic’s Jonah DiCocco during Monday’s game in Williamstown. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I’ve been kind of a skinny dude pretty much my whole life – I’ve been working out with the guys,” Kimble said. “Charleston Catholic has the best weight program I’ve ever seen. I have some video where my exit velo is way up from last year.

“It was different rounding the bases because usually I’m having to sprint to the next base. Jogging didn’t feel too bad.”

The other highlight for the Irish came several batters later with the bases loaded and one out. Ranson didn’t need any help from the prevailing winds blowing out to center field for his grand slam. The catcher finished 3-for-4 with six RBIs.

“We did have our spring break last week, but we knew as a team we needed to lock it in,” Ranson said. “We had a good opponent from Williamstown. No matter who was pitching, we knew we had to come ready to compete. We didn’t want to make our spring break an excuse for us.”

Adkins mentioned how this experience of playing one of the top teams in the state will benefit his two young pitchers.

“This is good for them to see top level competition and be able to compete against that,” Adkins said. “They can see what needs to be done, where we are at and where we need to go.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com