photo by: Kim North

Photo by Kim North Wheeling Central shortstop Bella Rine relays the ball to first base after forcing out Martins Ferry’s Kendyl Brandon at second during Thursday’s game in Martins Ferry. Rone had three singles and two RBI in the Maroon Knights’ 6-3 victory.

MARTINS FERRY – Wheeling Central has left no doubt that it belongs in the upcoming OVAC Tom Bechtel Class 3A softball playoffs. The Maroon Knights entered the week neck-and-neck with United for the coveted fourth – and final – spot, with Columbiana within percentage points.

However, with victories over No. 2 Monroe Central (6-4) on Tuesday and 6-3 over top-seeded host Martins Ferry on Thursday, Wheeling Central will be moving up when the final standings are released this weekend.

“I can’t complain about anything. The girls really came ready to play today,” Wheeling Central head coach Buck Davidson said. “It was all them (the girls). We, as coaches, do as much as we can to prepare them, but when we put them out in the field or at the plate, it’s up to them. They came through today and I’m very proud of every single one of them.

“I’m just so happy for the girls. They’re in a good place right now.”

Wheeling Central won for the fifth straight time and 11 out of their last 12 outings.

Meanwhile, the Purple Riders (18-3) have lost back-to-back games for the first time since April 25 and 27 of the 2023-24 season. They already have the No. 1 seed cemented heading into next week’s semifinals.

“We hit the ball hard several times, but it was right at them,” Martins Ferry head coach Jerry Magistro said. “I can’t complain when the kids are hitting the ball hard.”

Wheeling Central scored an unearned run in the top of the first as Morgan Miehle’s smash to third was too hot to handle and resulted with the Maroon Knight sophomore standing on second. She took third on a wild pitch and raced home on Chloe Groome’s fielder’s choice.

Martins Ferry went ahead in the bottom of the third, thanks in part to a couple of fielding miscues by the visitors. With two outs, Maddie Lucas walked and Makayla Cole ripped a shot down the first base line that Seneca Heller knocked down, but the ball rolled away as Cole reached safely. Giana Chirpas was intentionally walked to load the bases – as has been the case for much of the season – to face Gracie Lucas. Her shot to second deflected off the glove of the Maroon Knights fielder, allowing Maddie Lucas and Cole to score for a 2-1 advantage.

However, Wheeling Central scored a pair of runs in the fifth and tacked on three more insurance markers in the sixth.

Seneca Heller was credited with a pair of runs batted in to put the Maroon Knights back on top, 3-2. Her bouncer up the middle by knocked down by a diving Gracie Lucas, who – while lying on the ground – flipped the ball to Chirpas at second for the force to end the inning, but the umpire ruled the ball was bobbled, which allowed Bella Rine and Maddie Miehle to score.

Rine, a W.Va. Wesleyan signee, and Groome collected run-producing base hits in the sixth, with a third run crossing on an error in the outfield.

Ava Rose’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth brought the Purple Riders to within three, but they stranded two of their seven runners.

“We didn’t play our best and they wanted it more,” Magistro added. “You could see the excitement they showed for winning a regular-season game. That fires us up now. We’ve got to get ready for when the big games start.”

Lefty Katie Jokovich-Palmer held Martins Ferry at bay, allowing just three singles – two of bunts – while striking out three and issuing half-a-dozen free passes, with half of those intentional to Chirpas, an Ohio University recruit. She needed 93 pitches in her route-going effort, with 56 being strikes. She threw 17 first-pitch strikes to the 31 batters she faced.

“This is definitely Katie’s biggest game so far,” Davidson praised. “She proved a lot to me tonight, so she’s going to be seeing more time inside the circle.”

Maddie Lucas suffered the loss in relief of Monica Tedeschi. Tedeschi struck out one and walked three in four innings. Lucas had no strikeouts and a walk.

Rine singled thrice to lead Wheeling Central’s 10-hit attack. She drove in two runs. Groome and Seneca Heller each added a pair of ribbies.

“When we hit the ball we are a dangerous team,” Davidson continued. “We can hit from No. 1 through No. 9.”

Morgan Miehle roamed centerfield for six putouts, including a fine running grab in right-center to rob Rose of extra bases.