photo by: Kim North

Photo by Kim North Martins Ferry third baseman Makayla Cole awaits a throw during Tuesday night’s OVAC Class 3A semifinal against Columbiana on Ben’s Field at the I-470 J.B. Chambers Complex in Elm Grove. The Purple Riders advanced to their sixth consecutive championship game with a 12-3 victory over the Clippers.

ELM GROVE – Players graduate but tradition doesn’t.

For the sixth straight spring, Martins Ferry (19-3) has advanced to the OVAC Class 3A championship game. The latest coming after a 12-3 triumph Tuesday night over fourth-seeded Columbiana (12-4) on Ben’s Field at the I-470 J.B. Chambers Complex.

With the triumph, the top-seeded Purple Riders halted a two-game losing streak and set up a rematch with No. 2 Monroe Central. That game will be played on Saturday with a time yet to be determined by OVAC officials. Martins Ferry won the first meeting 7-3 on April 11 high atop the Purple City.

“Monroe Central is a good team,” veteran Martins Ferry head coach Jerry Magistro said. “They showed me today just how good they can be. I thought they were good all season, but they beat a good Wheeling Central team today. We’re going to have to be ready to play to beat that team.”

Martins Ferry seemed to be on cruise control, leading 5-0 after three innings. However, the Clippers tallied three times in the fourth to pull within 5-3, but they would get no closer.

The Purple Riders made it 6-3 in the fourth but blew the game wide-open with a six-run fifth in which 10 batters went to the plate.

Juniors Gracie Lucas and Ella Mamone supplied most of the offense during the outburst. Lucas, who has been dependable all season in the clutch, smacked a two-run double and Mamone, the No. 8 batter in the lineup, laced a bases-clearing double down the right field line.

“Gracie has been hitting the ball all season,” Magistro said. “She’s been a clutch performer.”

Mamone finished with a career-high five RBI as she singled in a run in the second inning and had a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Lucas also singled.

“We’ve been working with her. The thing about that girl is she listens to everything you say,” Magistro noted. “She’s starting to show that all the hard work will pay off.”

Speedy Kendyl Brandon legged out three infield singles as Martins Ferry collected 10 hits.

Maddie Lucas worked the first four innings to earn the win inside the circle. The junior struck out seven and walked four before giving way to freshman Monica Tedeschi, who recorded four strikeouts and one walk. They combined on a four-hitter.

“We’ve got that combination going,” Magistro said of his pitching tandem. “Maddie starts and Monica comes in and does what she does.”

The only downside in the victory was Martins Ferry left 10 runners on base, with seven of those in scoring position.

“We have to do a better job at the plate with runners out there,” Magistro said.