Frontier’s Brayden Powers delivers a pitch during a baseball game against Belpre Thursday in New Matamoras. (Photo by Mike Morrison)

NEW MATAMORAS — The Frontier Cougars celebrated their three seniors in a pre-game ceremony Thursday evening prior to their home game against Belpre and then rolled to an 11-1, five-inning victory over the Eagles.

Gage Douglass, Ethan Rinard and Aidan Wolfe all played their final home game in the Cougar Vegas Blue and all three played a role in the Cougar win, their fourth in their last five games.

Wolfe pounded out a pair of base hits and delivered the game ending base hit while Douglass and Rinard each scored a pair of runs.

First-year Cougar head coach Corey Powers will certainly miss the trio who have been key parts to the Cougar squad over the past four years.

“They all three have been a big part of it for the last four years and we are going to miss them for sure,” said Powers. “They are all good kids and they will all do good things when they get out of here.”

The Frontier baseball team huddles up between innings during Thursday’s game against Belpre in New Matamoras. (Photo by Mike Morrison)

The Cougars dug themselves a little hole as Belpre scored a solo run in the first inning off of Frontier starting pitcher Brayden Powers.

AJ Copen led the game off by reaching on an infield single and moved into scoring position by swiping second base.

Slade Atkinson grounded out to move Copen to third and he came in to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of starting pitcher Blake Binegar.

Frontier got that run back and one to boot in the bottom of the first as they scored twice without the benefit of a base hit.

With one-out second baseman Hunter Ruble drew a walk and one out later came into score on what turned out to be a comedy of Belpre errors off of an infield grounder off the bat of center fielder Austyn Kephart.

Kephart eventually came into score when Rinard drew a bases loaded walk.

After allowing the first inning run, Powers was outstanding the rest of the way as the Cougar junior right hander allowed just one more hit and no more runs the rest of the way.

The Cougars once again took advantage of some wildness on the part of Binegar and another Belpre error to score three more times in the bottom of the second.

Douglass reached on an error to open the inning before Powers and Ruble drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.

Shortstop Luke Mendenhall delivered the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly before Kephart two-hopped the fence in deep left field for a double to plate two more runs and give the Cougars a 5-1 lead.

Frontier added to their lead in the third on run-scoring singles by Powers and Ruble.

The Cougars were at it again in the bottom of the fourth when they scored three more times, all coming after two men were out.

Rinard reached on an error and Wolfe singled and then promptly stole second.

Douglass drew a walk to load the bases and Powers did the same to force in another Cougar run.

Ruble then delivered his second run-scoring hit in as many innings, this one a two-run single to extend the lead to 10-1.

Powers ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the fifth as the Eagles loaded the bases with two out but he managed to escape without yielding a single run.

That allowed the Cougars to come to the plate in the bottom o the fifth needing just one run to bring the game to an early end.

Frontier loaded the bases thanks to three free passes and Wolfe wrapped things up by lining a single to right center field for the 11th run of the game allowing his team to improve to 9-10 on the season.

Powers picked up the win as he allowed just two hits and fanned three batters in his five inning or work.

“He’s had some arm trouble this year which has limited him a little bit on the mound, but he was really good tonight,” said Coach Powers of his son and starting pitcher. “He threw strikes and trusted his defense and they made the plays behind him.”

The Cougars were quite patient offensively as they had 22 runners reach base including 13 via the base on balls.

“Our kids were patient and saw a lot of pitches tonight,” said Coach Powers. “We’ve been preaching that and when they are patient like they were tonight it runs the pitch counts up.”

Frontier has struggled at times defensively throughout the season but they committed just one harmless error compared to six for Belpre.

“I think when you play ahead of teams like we have lately it takes a little pressure off the defense,” said Coach Powers. “Defense seems to come a little easier when you are getting on top of teams.”

The Cougars will try to square their record on Monday evening when they travel to Caldwell.

Belpre (2-15) will have very little time to lick their wounds as they are right back in action Friday night at Alexander.

at Frontier High School

WP: Brayden Powers 5IP, 2H, ER, 5BB, 3SO

LP: Blake Binegar 3IP, 3H, 8BB, SO.

Belpre (2-15) hitting: AJ Copen 1-3, R, Blake Binegar 1-2, RBI.

Frontier (9-10) hitting: Hunter Ruble 2-2, 2R, 3RBI, Aidan Wolfe 2-4, R, RBI, Brayden Powers 1-2, 2R, RBI, Austyn Kephart 1-3, R, 2RBI, 2B, Luke Mendenhall 0-1, R, RBI, Ethan Rinard 0-1, 2R, RBI, Gage Douglass 0-2, 2R.

Next Games: Friday, Belpre at Alexander, Monday, Frontier at Caldwell.