Wheeling Central Collects 18 Hits In Blanking Monroe, 8-0
Frizzell Strikes Out 14 In Win
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WHEELING -- Top-seeded Wheeling Central wore its hitting shoes Monday night as it amassed 18 hits in an 8-0 blanking of No. 4 Monroe Central in an OVAC Class 2A semifinal on windy Ben's Field at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Sports Complex.
Leadoff hitter Jensen Rine had four singles to lead the Maroon Knights (15-3). Brook Edge, Jocelyn Shaw and Maddie Miehle each had a trio of safeties.
"I was really proud of the girls today. The last few games we've really started hitting, but today was nice because we did it with runners on base," Wheeling Central head coach Buck Davidson said. "That really, really helped."
What also helped was the fact that Josie Frizzell struck out 14 and only walked one while scattering five singles, of which four were infield hits.
"She pitched a great game. She kept them off balance," Davidson added. "It was just an all-around game by everybody."
Wheeling Central plated four runs in the bottom of the first on six hits. Edge drove in one with a single and Shaw made it 3-0 with a 2-run double to right. Frizzell's groundout chased in Shaw.
Frizzell picked up another RBI with a groundout in the third and Peyton Smith singled to bump the count to 6-0. A seventh run crossed on an error.
Ashlee Baker grounded out in the fourth as Edge scored.
Edge doubled twice and singled, while Shaw had two singles and a double. Miehle singled thrice. All nine starters had at least one hit.
When asked if it mattered who his team plays in the finals, Davidson said, "they are both really good teams. We split with Toronto but we didn't play Shadyside. It doesn't matter who we play because we still have to play a good game."
Monroe Central head coach Michael Brock knew his team would probably struggle hitting the ball.
"We've been in a hitting slump of late. In our last game we had to go to Caldwell and face the Mumaw girl. The Frizzell girl pitched a great game today," he said. "Defensively we played really well, but offensively we are struggling."
The Seminoles threw two runners out at the plate and one at third.
Wheeling Central plays No. 4 Shadyside Saturday at 3 p.m. for the title on Ben's Field.