The Wheeling Central Maroon Knights dominated the Martins Ferry Purple Riders in the OVAC 3A Semifinals, securing an 11-1 victory in a game that was highlighted by a first-inning surge. The No. 2-seeded Knights wasted no time in taking control of the game, scoring five runs in the opening inning to set the tone for the rest of the match.
Wheeling Central head coach Todd Cover praised his team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of jumping on their opponents early and maintaining quality at-bats throughout the game. The Knights displayed their offensive prowess by sending 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, with key hits coming from Seth Cover, Brayden Cover, and Hunter Mueller.
Despite a valiant effort from Martins Ferry, the early deficit proved to be insurmountable. Head coach Anthony Reasbeck acknowledged the challenge of facing a talented team like Wheeling Central after falling behind early in the game.
Mueller emerged as a standout player for the Knights, driving in five runs and delivering a stellar performance at the plate. The bottom of Wheeling Central’s lineup also contributed significantly to the team’s offensive output, with Brayden Cover and Luke Tiu delivering key hits.
Pitching and defense were crucial factors in Wheeling Central’s victory, as Steven Brodegard’s impressive pitching performance and the team’s error-free defense stifled Martins Ferry’s offense. The Knights now look ahead to the OVAC 3A Championship game against Linsly, with Coach Cover expressing excitement for the opportunity to compete for a championship title.
The stage is set for an exciting showdown between Wheeling Central and Linsly, as both teams vie for the coveted championship title in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.