Crusaders get first win

STEUBENVILLE — For the first time since 2022, the Catholic Central softball team earned a victory.

Just a couple weeks into re-starting the program after two seasons away, the youthful Crusaders group won for the first time in their fourth outing, topping Valley 15-5 by the run rule in five innings on Wednesday evening.

Genevieve Free had a double, single and drove in three runs, Alexis Lathem had two hits and two RBIs and Miriam Free drove in three runs for Central.

Grace Fink, Karlie Nese, Gianna Lemal, Mary Fink, Taylor Ensminger and Evelyn Zeigler each finished with an RBI.

In the circle, Lathem went all five innings, striking out four.

The Crusaders showed a lot of discipline at the plate, drawing 16 walks.

Central plated four in the first, five each in the second and third and one in the bottom of the fifth to end things early.

Creek gets revenge on Buckeye

WINTERSVILLE — Two days after seeing Buckeye Local rally back to victory, Indian Creek’s softball team was able to fend off the Panthers, 8-7, at home Wednesday to get a little revenge and earn a split of the season series.

After the Panthers scored first, the Redskins plated six in the bottom of the second to jump ahead.

Creek pushed the lead to 8-2 through four innings, then held on as Buckeye Local rallied back.

The Panthers scored three in the fifth and one each in the sixth and seventh, but the comeback came up a run short this time.

McKenna Scott had two doubles at the plate and was the winning pitcher, going all seven innings and striking out eight. Just one of the seven runs against her were earned as Creek overcame eight errors.

Kylie Dray also had two doubles and an RBI, while Rylee Sadler had a double and drove in three runs.

Peyton Rath and Tori Gross each had two hits and an RBI.

For Buckeye Local, Adison Muldrew had a triple, while Karli Lander doubled in a run and Missy Smith also doubled, singled and plated a run.

Blue Dons make it nine-straight

BLACKSVILLE — The Madonna softball team’s win streak ran up to nine.

The Dons won both games of a doubleheader against Clay-Battelle on Wednesday by the run rule, 19-0 and 15-0, to improve to 9-1 through the first 10 games.

Madi Owens had a big day, hitting a homer in both games. She had seven on the season already.

She also had a triple and five RBIs in the opener, adding three hits and three RBIs in the second game.

Also in the opener, Peyton Conley also homered, had a pair of hits and drove in four runs, Alayna Sczerbinski drove in three runs and Kendal Ryan brought home a pair.

Ryan was the winning pitcherwith two strikeouts.

In the second game, Conley had a triple, two singles and five RBIs and Ryan drove in two more runs while Geena Birkhimer doubled.

In the circle, Conley fired a four-inning no-hitter with three punchouts.

Huskies top Brooke

WELLSBURG — The Harrison Central softball team plated the first six runs on the road at Brooke on Wednesday and went on to win, 8-2, for a season sweep of the Bruins.

Kelsey Powers had a double and a single, while Olivia Tonkovich had a triple, single and an RBI, Bailey Smith had two singles and an RBI and Cameron Campbell drove in two runs.

Emma Skinner struck out three and did not issue a walk in a complete game victory in the circle.

For the Bruins, Emma Bober had two hits and both RBIs.

Toronto falls on the road

WHEELING — The Toronto softball team dropped a 9-0 decision on the road at Wheeling Central on Wednesday.

Lily Sapp had the lone hit of the game for the Red Knights.

BASEBALL

Creek improves to 2-0

CONNORVILLE — The Indian Creek baseball team made it wins against Buckeye Local on back-to-back days to start their season, topping the Panthers 4-1 on the road on the back end of a season-openinghome-and-home series Wednesday.

The Redskins plated the first four runs of the game and made it stand up.

Sal Barcalow went the distance in his season debut on the mound, striking out three and scattering four hits.

He also had a big day at the plate, hitting a pair of doubles and driving in a run.

Silus Hyde, Ty Householder and James Brothers each also drove in a run for Creek.

For the Panthers, Kaleb Stang drove in their lone run with a double, while Wyatt Luyster had two doubles.

Grant Dombroski went six innings, striking out four on the mound.

Huskies bounce back against Brooke

WELLSBURG — After falling at home to Brooke on Monday, Harrison Central went to Wellsburg Wednesday and returned the favor with a 6-2 victory over the Bruins.

Tucker Snyder had a double and a triple for the Huskies, while Hunter Snyder and Anthony Pelegreen had two RBIs each and Gage Stoneking had a pair of hits.

Knox McKibben went 4 2/3 innings on the mound for the win, striking out four.

For Brooke Gavin Moore had an RBI, while Parker McMahon struck out six in six innings on the mound.