By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

BAY ST. LOUIS — St. Patrick bounced back to split its Region 8-3A back-to-back, home, and home series with arch-rival St. Stanislaus Wednesday night.
After falling at home to the Rock-A-Chaws 2-1 Tuesday night, the Fighting Irish went on the road themselves and slipped past SSC 3-1 the following night. The win allows St. Patrick to maintain its grip on first place in the region race at 5-1, while the defending league champion Rocks drop to 3-3 in the loop after splitting its first three region series this season.
There’s only two weeks of league play left this season in Region 8-3A.

On Wednesday, St. Patrick took an early 1-0 lead in the tp of the first frame thanks to three straight walks with two outs.
Trey Kopszwya drew the bases loaded base on balls, following prior walks issued by SSC starting pitcher Jeremy Mares. Kopszwya’s RBI plated Ayden lee, who led the game off with a single.
After that, Mares and St. Patrick starter Cohen Weinhofer hooked up in a pitchers duel over the next six stanzas, each hurling shutout ball until the seventh inning.

In the top of the seventh, John Hay struck the big blow of the game for the Fighting Irish, as after Weinhofer reached base on an error Hay stepped up to the plate and blasted a two run home run on a line drive over the left field fence to make it 3-0.
Mares posted an RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh to help the Rocks avoid the shutout but that would be it.
Lee had two hits to pace the Fighting Irish at the plate, as Weinhofer picked up the win on the hill.
St. Stanislaus managed just three singles in the game, as Mares took the loss.
St. Stanislaus meets Tylertown in region play next week to wrap up league play for the Rocks, while St. Patrick takes the week off from league action and faces Pass Christian in a two game home and home series.