Staff photo / Preston Byers. Warren JFK’s Andrew LaPolla delivers a pitch during Wednesday’s win vs. Heartland Christian in Warren.

WARREN — Unless Mother Nature intervened, somebody had to earn their first win of the season when 0-2 Heartland Christian and 0-3 Warren JFK met Wednesday in Warren.

Fortunately for the Eagles, they came up on the victorious end, beating Heartland 11-1 in five innings.

“We pitched well. We took advantage of some mistakes they made, and we got some timely hits,” Kennedy head coach Jim Ciambotti said. “It was just good to get a W right now.”

The Lions took an early lead to get things started Wednesday, courtesy of a Jack Morgan sacrifice fly to center field. Paul Bender, who drew a leadoff walk, scored to go ahead 1-0.

Kennedy did not waste time in its response, as Andrew LaPolla singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the first. A few batters later, Trevin Rinck drove LaPolla in with another single.

Both teams got through the second unscathed, although Heartland barely so when a groundout stranded a pair of runners in scoring position.

The Lions could not wiggle out of another jam the following inning.

Landon Snyder led off the home half of the third with a single, and Lucas Mealy joined him on base with a walk. After both runners advanced on a fly out to center field, Snyder scored on an infield single by Lucas Morrison. Mealy and Morrison soon thereafter crossed home plate on a pair of wild pitches by Alex Hamilton.

Christian Hamitlon relieved Alex Hamilton after another walk and an RBI single by Dylan Sforza. Following the pitching change, LaPolla hit a pop fly to shallow left, but none of the three Lions in the area came up with the catch, allowing two runners to score. LaPolla also scored during the next at-bat when a Snyder fly ball sailed over the head of the center fielder, who misjudged the distance in one of several outfield mistakes by Heartland.

Down 8-1, the Lions failed to get a rally going in the top of the fourth, during which LaPolla struck out the side. The Eagles then increased their lead to nine runs when Andrew Totten hit a two-run double to left field.

After Brennen Sanata replaced LaPolla and retired the side in order, Kennedy finished Heartland off in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Jason Andre led off with a single through the left side of the infield before stealing second base. LaPolla moved him over to third with an infield single, and Snyder brought him home with a hit to left field, triggering the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s 10-run mercy rule.

LaPolla earned the win for the Eagles. He allowed just two hits, one run and a walk while striking out eight in four innings pitched. Sanata struck out a pair in his perfect inning on the mound.

As for the Lions, starter Alex Hamilton picked up the loss. In 2 2/3 innings, he struck out a batter and surrendered six hits, five earned runs and four walks. Christian Hamilton also struck out one and allowed three hits, two earned runs, while Grant Miller, who pitched the fifth inning, gave up two hits and a run.

Wednesday’s game marked the first of four consecutive gamedays for Heartland Christian (0-3), which travels to Wellsville today. As scheduled, the Lions will meet East Palestine and Maplewood before facing the Eagles again on Monday.

“We haven’t played since Saturday, and then we had Easter break, so we got one practice in. So that was the second time we got together in 11 days,” Heartland coach Mark Franken said. “It’s a tough start. JFK’s a traditional power in the district, so hopefully, with the score ending up 11-1, we’re going to learn from that. When we play them on Monday, we’ll see how quickly we’ve learned.”

With the win, Kennedy improved to 1-3 on the year. The Eagles had been outscored 31-5 until Wednesday. They are set to play at Hubbard on Friday before their rematch vs. the Lions.

“We got to improve in every phase: pitching, hitting, running bases and defense,” Ciambotti said. “We’re not close where we need to be. But we have to start somewhere.”