ELM GROVE – Wheeling Central found itself in a precarious situation heading into Tuesday’s contest with talented Monroe Central.

The Maroon Knights were sitting in fourth place in the OVAC 3A softball standings with Saturday being the tournament cutoff date. The top four in each class make the tourney.

Wheeling Central met the challenge in impressive fashion, downing the Lady Seminoles, 6-4, on Ben’s Field at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex. It marked the Maroon Knights’ second win of the season against Monroe Central, which sports a sparkling 14-3 mark, placing them in second place in the OVAC 3A race.

“It was a big win for sure,” Wheeling Central head coach Buck Davidson said. “We couldn’t afford another loss. It really would have hurt our tournament chances. I am really proud of how the girls responded with a lot on the line.”

Central is now 13-7. The Maroon Knights were scheduled to play Barnesville today but that game fell by the wayside as the Lady Shamrocks must play a Buckeye 8 placement game. Consequently, the Maroon will return to action Thursday at Martins Ferry.

Davidson received a sharp pitching performance from Olivia Kiaski. The senior ace went the distance, scattering seven hits while striking our eight and walking four.

“Olivia pitched a very good game,” Davidson said. “But we’ve come to expect that from her.”

Central managed just six hits on the day but took advantage of three costly Monroe Central errors.

Sophomore Chloe Groome wielded the big stick for the winners, slamming a home run to deep left field and missing a second one but just a few feet, settling for a double. Groome blasted two home runs in the initial meeting with Monroe Central.

“Chloe hit some shots tonight. She did it also when we played them the first time. She must like Monroe Central pitching,” Davidson added.

Monroe Central took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a run-scoring error and an RBI single from Maclarin Craft. It was Central’s lone miscue of the day.

The Maroon Knights cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second inning by taking advantage of two Lady Seminole errors.

Central grabbed the lead with a four-run fourth inning.

Groome opened the frame with her home run. Erin Maxwell walked followed by a Seneca Heller single. They both came home via a Sydney Hupp single.

Monroe Central bounced back with two runs in the fifth frame via RBI singles from Kennadi Jorris and Brylee McFredrick. Kiaski stymied the Lady Seminoles’ offense and the balance of the game by retiring seven of the final eight batters she faced.

Central added an insurance run in the fifth. Groome hammered a double and scored on an RBI groundout from Heller.

“I thought we played well defensively,” Davidson said. “We gave them one run in the first inning but after that we made all the plays we needed. The girls played really well tonight in all phases.”

Allie McFredrick pitched the first three innings for Monroe Central before giving way to Kamryn Winland in the fourth. McFredrick re-entered in the fourth. She fanned four and walked one. Winland struck out one and walked a like amount.

“I am disappointed for the girls. They didn’t show their potential tonight,” Monroe Central head coach Paris Yoho said. “We are a really good hitting team. We didn’t show that tonight.

“Give Wheeling Central credit. They are a good team and beat us twice now,” Yoho said. “We will learn from this game. Our goal is to win the OVAC.”

Monroe Central will visit Shadyside today.