Photo Provided The Wheeling Central Maroon Knights celebrate with Zayne Rosnick (18) during their state quarterfinal game Monday vs. James Monroe on Jack Cook Field.

HUNTINGTON — After an intense 2-1 victory in their Class AA state quarterfinal game vs. James Monroe, the Wheeling Central Maroon Knights are feeling the intensity once again.

Such is to be expected in the WVSSAC state tournament, where No. 1 Wheeling Central will face off with No. 4 Logan on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Marshall University’s Jack Cook Field. The Wildcats are coming off of a 10-3 victory over Doddridge County, and Central head coach Todd Cover expects a top-notch opponent.

“Logan’s a really good team,” Cover said. “We played them earlier in the year, about two months ago, we played them over in Charleston. We know they’re a really good team. They’re probably one of the best lineups that we’re going to face. And I hope they can say the same about us.

“We’re expecting a tight game. It’s going to be two really good pitchers– whoever they throw, and we’re going to throw Steven [Brodegard]. It’s going to be two really good pitchers, and hopefully we can make enough plays to come out on top.”

After their quarterfinals victory, where Brady Ernest hit a walk-off pop-up that managed to drop for a hit, emotions were naturally high. Come Thursday, Cover isn’t worried about any kind of come-down though.

“I mean, there’s always a risk of that,” Cover said of his team’s focus after the dramatic win vs. the Mavericks. “Every game you go into is a little bit different. For us, our target all year is to be in the state championship game, and we’re one game away from it now. So I would hope they keep their eyes on-target.

“This time of year is always difficult. You got kids that are out of school, they’re not in that structured program like you have for most of the year. So just managing the downtime is probably the most difficult thing. So, I hope our focus is there. I hope we can get ramped back up and get excited for this game.”

Wheeling Central and Logan have met before– a 4-1 win for the Maroon Knights on April 25. Cover knows the postseason is a different animal.

“It’s going to be different,” Cover said. “There’s going to be a different pitcher for them, different pitcher for us. They’ve obviously made some strides forward. We’ve made some strides forward.

“It’s going to be a completely different game. We know what they are. They’re a really good hitting team. They’re going to be really well-coached, field well, they’re going to pitch well. Whoever makes more plays is going to come out on top.”

Carrying much of his roster over from last year’s state championship game– including Brodegard, Brayden Cover, Kade Koroneos, Jake Brown, Zayne Rosnick, Koy Lipinski, Matt Criniti, Brady Ernest, Clay Petry and more– Cover has enjoyed a deep lineup this year. He sees a similar team in the Wildcats.

“I would say we’re pretty similar,” Cover said. “I think 1-through-9, they’re gonna hit the ball pretty hard. And I think 1-through-9, they’re going to have guys, maybe at the bottom of the order, that can hit the ball out of the ballpark. Their sixth or seventh hitter hit one out Monday. We know they have some power on the team. They’re an athletic bunch, so they’re going to be able to run a little bit just like we do. So I’d say more similar than different.”

Rob Ball hit a two-run home run for Logan vs. Doddridge. DH Jaxon McClung had two hits and three RBI. Tanner Akers tallied three hits.

Last year, Wheeling Central enjoyed spectacular pitching performances on their way to a state title. Brayden Cover struck out 14 in a 10-0 state semifinals win vs. Wyoming East, and Brodegard struck out seven in a 7-0 state championship victory over Philip Barbour.

It was another strong pitching performance from Cover and Brodegard– Cover pitched the first five innings, Brodegard the last two– that helped Wheeling Central advance through James Monroe earlier this week, and Central’s pitching and defense will be a crucial factor Thursday– and, Cover hopes, beyond.

“I’d like to think, you know, we had kids that did it last year, hopefully the experience pays off for us,” Cover said. “The thing with defense– in games like this where we expect it’s going to be a tight game, it’s how you field balls, it’s how you field pickoffs, it’s do you make errors, do you make the right play?

“Sometimes high school games are lost more than they are won. As long as we can pitch it and throw strikes and field it when it comes to us, you know, I like our chances. I do.”