Wheeling will be seeking to defend its 2024 Ohio Valley Baseball League championships this summer as action begins Sunday in the six-team summer wooden bat baseball league.

The Cardinals defeated Barton in the best-of-5 championship series last summer. They had eliminated three-time defending champ Maynard in the semifinals.

“I’m really looking forward to this summer,” OVBL President Laney Simone Sr. said. “There seems to be a lot of quality baseball players spread throughout the league. Last year was a pretty balanced season and I look for more of the same this year.”

While Barton, Maynard and Wheeling remain as the mainstays of the league, there is one new face and a pair of teams making their return to the league, one relocating home sites.

Colerain will make its debut under Ralph Kinsey. The Hitmen will play their home games at the Martins Ferry High School diamond high atop the Purple City.

Weirton returns after a couple of years absence and will be called the A’s. They are managed by Jeff Brncic and will play their home games on Edwin J. Bowman Field in downtown Weirton.

Bethany, which is the former Moundsville Expos, also returns and will play as the Brewers. They are coached by John Santamarino and will play at Bethany Park on the campus of Bethany College.

Barton is coached by Billy Timko and the Braves will play their home games on Henning Field inside Pramesa Park in Crescent.

Maynard will once again utilize Firemen’s Field inside the Community Park as its home diamond. The Indians are coached by David Vicker.

Wheeling is using the Wheeling University diamond at the I-470 J.B. Chambers Complex as its home. The Cardinals are coached by Scott Shaw.

Weekday games will be played on Wednesday and Friday nights at 6, with Sunday contests starting at 1 p.m.

The season will run into the first week of July, with the playoffs beginning on July 6.