Wheeling Central Softball Sweeps Bishop Donahue
WHEELING — The Wheeling Central softball team extended its winning streak to 37 games dating back to last season as it earned a pair of victories — 10-1 and 9-0 — against Bishop Donahue in a doubleheader at the I-470 Fields on Thursday.
The dynamic duo of Marissa Garlitz and Riley Bennington dominated in the circle once again as Garlitz fired a no-hitter in Game 2 while Bennington had 10 strikeouts in giving up one hit in the first outing.
“Marissa and Riley both threw well,” Wheeling Central (4-0) coach Rick Magruder said. “Actually, they’re not even in mid-season form yet, but they’re throwing well. I thought we hit the ball well and put it in play. We played some younger girls in the second game and I thought they did a great job. Get them in when we can. I’m happy with the way things are right now.”
Garlitz compiled eight strikeouts while tallying two singles and two RBI at the plate. The Maroon Knights totaled 11 hits in Game 2 with four of them coming in the second inning resulting in five runs.
“You can definitely tell it was the second game,” Garlitz said about her pitching. “I’m still rusty and everything, but our team played good. We got to play a lot of girls who don’t usually get to play. That was nice.”
Garlitz walked the first batter in Maddie Menendez who got to third base, but the Maroon Knights shut it down the rest of the way as only one Bishop got on base for the next four innings.
Olivia Carpenter had three singles while Hannah Mozingo belted a double for the Maroon Knights.
For Bishop Donahue, Hope Ruza had a busy day as she went the distance in both games. She fired three strikeouts in Game 2.
“Maddie Adkins is our second pitcher,” Bishop Donahue coach Curt Mele said. “However she pitched (on Wednesday) and threw a lot of pitches. Her arm was very sore. For the most part, Hope’s pitch count was starting to get up there toward the end of the second game, but I thought Hope came in and threw pretty well and Central is just a very good-hitting team. She did as good as she could do.”
Game 1
Wheeling Central 9, Bishop Donahue 1
Bennington took command at the plate and in the circle. The junior ace had 10 strikeouts and belted a two-run homer, two-run single and double for the Maroon Knights.
Bennington walked Menendez to lead off the game and after an error with one out, the Bishops took a 1-0 lead. Bennington quickly recovered and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Her home run in the first gave the Maroon Knights the lead, 3-1.
Kaitlyn Ferns cracked a two-run home run to put the score at 8-1 in the second inning.
Adkins tallied the lone hit for the Bishops.
Tyler Consolidated 10, Paden City 3
MIDDLEBOURNE — Vanessa Templeton was solid both in the circle and at the plate. She fired eight strikeouts while tallying a home run, double and RBI as Tyler Consolidated defeated Paden City.
Madison Lasick tallied three singles and an RBI for the Silver Knights while Ali Miller had two singles and one RBI. Kylie Martin, Joralda Rice and Madison West each supplied doubles. Rice also had three RBI.
For the Wildcats, Aubrey Neff secured a double, home run and RBI while Ashlyn Moses had two singles.
Weir 10, Linsly 2
WEIRTON — Alivia Rosnick crushed two home runs and also got the win as Weir defeated Linsly.
Rosnick also had three RBI while Maddie Dillulo had a single and double for the Red Riders.
For the Cadets, Taylor Wisavri-Weir belted two singles.
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