WHEELING — Last season’s unexpected ending did not sit well with Coach Bo McConnaughy and his Wheeling Central baseball team, but they are aiming to finish the job this year.

The Maroon Knights fell in the opening round of the state tournament a year ago to eventual champion Charleston Catholic, but a Class A state semifinal showdown with Ravenswood on Friday has them seeking redemption.

“It’s been our goal all year long to get back down to state,” McConnaughy said. “We didn’t perform well last year and we want to have a better showing this time.”

It won’t be the first time the Maroon Knights and Red Devils have faced off this spring as Central claimed a 9-5 victory earlier in the season, but McConnaughy is expecting a much closer contest this time around.

“We didn’t see their best pitching in that game,” the Central skipper said. “I just don’t want our guys getting caught up in the hoopla. This game is no different than any other game we played this year. We need to just go out and play the game.”

One player who won’t back down from the big game spotlight is senior pitcher Doug Clark, who has taken the mound in all of Wheeling Central’s biggest games this year.

The all-state southpaw comes into tournament action with a perfect 7-0 record, an ERA of 1.25, 62 strikeouts and 16 walks. He has only allowed eight earned runs in 50 innings this year.

George Cupp, who pitched the Knights to a regional title in his last game, owns a 5-1 record with 40 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.90 in 46 frames.

Adam Murray also adds pitching depth with a 4-1 mark, 24 Ks and a 3.41 ERA.

“In some ways I think we might be better than last year’s team,” McConnaughy said. “We don’t have a lot of velocity, but we have pitchers who are effective and I’m not afraid to throw any of them.

“We only have two games and we have some capable relievers in Pat Brown and Sonny Peluchette.”

At the plate, Central is solid from top to bottom as Clark is hitting .421 with 16 RBI and a homer from the leadoff spot and Angelo Gentile is swinging at a .472 clip with 21 RBI in the eight hole.

Brown has knocked in 18 runs and carries a .427 average with one home run, while first baseman Logan Wells, who turned in six RBI in the regional tournament, is hitting .378 with 27 RBI.

Shortstop Bryan Courts and Cupp are both hitting at a .338 clip, while third baseman Chris Furka supplies a .292 average with 22 RBI and Adam Murray adds a .291 clip with 21 RBI.

“The big difference for us this year is we are getting hitting from top to bottom,” McConnaughy said. “We worked hard on that in the early season practices.

“It takes me back to my days at West Liberty when the entire lineup was solid, especially at the top of the order. Everyone contributed and that was the reason for our success.

“This year has been a total team effort.”

Ravenswood is led by a strong pitching staff.

Lakin Tucker and Chase Swain each own 6-3 records, while Ethan Mahan is 5-1, Kenley Hickman is 2-0 and Stephen Dawson is 3-3.