HANNIBAL – Third-seeded River (15-8) advanced to the Ohio Division VII Eastern District championship baseball game Tuesday with a 6-1 victory over visiting Malvern.

Maverick Marty played a key role in the win as he went six innings on the mound, striking out five, walking six and yielding three hits. He also had a pair of singles and two RBI, as did Cooper Roberts.

Kaden Hunt singled in a run for River, which will meet No. 1 Strasburg on Thursday at a site to be determined by Eastern District officials. Strasburg defeated Shadyside, 4-2.

Division V, East 2 District Semifinal

Harrison Central 9, West Muskingum 5

CADIZ — The Huskies jumped out to a big lead in Tuesday’s Division V, East 2 District semifinal at home on Mazeroski Field and held off West Muskingum for the victory.

The Huskies (16-9-1), the No. 2 seed in the district, scored the game’s first eight runs and held the Tornadoes off the scoreboard until the sixth inning.

Coach Mike Valesko’s club will advance to take on No. 3 seed West Lafayette Ridgewood in the district championship game on Thursday at Tuscarawas Valley.

The Huskies had the bats going for extra bases in Tuesday’s win as they hit five doubles accounting for nearly half of their 12 hits.

Lance Smith had a big day, hitting one of the two-basers to go with three singles and four RBIs. Kolton Mizer tallied three hits and three RBIs, Colson Crothers smacked two doubles and plated a run, Trae Dunfee had a double and an RBI and Cash Meadows also doubled.

On the mound, Gage Stoneking started strong, going the first 5 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and a walk before the visitors finally broke through.

Mizer came on in relief and fired the final 1 1/3 innings, calming things down to earn the save.

Thursday’s district final is slated to start at 5 p.m.