Dover’s early scoring proves sufficient against Big Red | Local news, sports, employment opportunities

STEUBENVILLE — The Big Red baseball team faced a tough challenge on Monday as they took on Dover in the OVAC tournament semifinal at the Crimson Complex. Despite a valiant effort, Big Red fell short, losing 4-1 to Dover.

Dover, the No. 4 seed in the Class 5A field, capitalized on some early runs to secure the victory. The Tornadoes scored three runs in the second inning and added another run in the third, putting Big Red in a tough spot. Dover’s starter, Colin Bruno, pitched a solid game with six strikeouts and no walks, keeping Big Red off the board until the seventh inning.

Big Red head coach Fred Heatherington acknowledged that errors hurt his team early in the game, but he commended his players for battling until the end. Despite their efforts, Big Red couldn’t overcome the early deficit, committing four errors and leaving seven men on base.

Dover’s strong defensive play and solid pitching from Bruno proved to be the difference in the game. The Tornadoes managed to hold off Big Red’s late rally attempts and secure the win.

With the victory, Dover advances to the conference championship game to face Morgantown. Meanwhile, Big Red will look to bounce back in their next game against Buckeye Local at the Crimson Complex.

Despite the loss, Big Red can take away valuable lessons from their matchup against Dover and use them to improve in future games. The team’s resilience and determination will serve them well as they continue their season.