BASEBALL

Madonna ends regualr season with win

WEIRTON — The Madonna baseball team joined the ranks of 20-win teams with a victory in the their regular season finale on Thursday evening, 6-1 over visiting Monroe Central at Bowman Field.

The Blue Dons, who finsih the regualr season 20-4 and head into next week’s regional tournament as the No. 1 seed, scored five runs in the final three innings to pull away from the Seminoles.

Mat Geer hit s homer, had a double and a single and drove in two runs, while David Connors had a double and an RBI and Dom Maple and Reed Wilharm each had a hit and an RBI.

Wilharm went the distance on the mound, striking out 10 batters and walking just one in scattering four singles.

“Reed Wilharm pitched an excellent game,” Madonna coach TJ Miller said. “He has been solid for us on the mound all season, and we expect him to keep delivering going into the post season. Mat Geer lead the charge at the plate for us today. We were solid in the field, and we are hitting our stride going into the post-season.

“I am blessed to coach this team, and these guys are locked in to make a run. We are excited, and we are going to continue working hard toward the ultimate goal which is a state championship.”

Red Riders bounce back

WEIRTON — The Weir High baseball team got back in the win column Thursday, putting a couple tough losses earlier in the week behind it with a walk-off 4-3 victory over visiting Union Local to end the regular season.

The Red Riders’ winning hit came on an RBI single from Teddy Glyptis with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. It was his second hit of the game.

Evan Kaczmarek had two doubles, Jonathan Horstman had a double and two RBIs, Colson Kimmel doubled and Alkes Zanieski also drove in a run for Weir.

Liam Williamson went the first 5 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking one, while Lucas McAllister went the final 1 2/3 innings to earn the win in relief.

Weir ends the regular season 11-16 and travels to Grafton on Monday to begin the regional tournament.

Crusaders back in the win column

STEUBENVILLE — The Catholic Central baseball team ended a seven-game losing streak with a 12-4 victory over visiting Wellsville at home at Vaccaro Field on Thursday evening.

The Crusaders got two hits and two RBIs from Matthew Sprochi and two hits and and an RBI from Matty Jones, while Mason Meeks, Michael DiCarlo, Joseph Vranish and Michael Fabbro each drove in a run.

Eli Fayak struck out five batters in the first two innings on the mound, while Tommy Symington struck out four in the next four innings and Vranish fired a scorless seventh to finish things out.

Central is at Oak Glen tonight.

Panthers upset Toronto at home

CONNORVILLE — Buckeye Local got the biggest win of its season on Thursday, toppling state-ranked Toronto 6-2 at Bill Mazeroski Field.

The win gives the 7-13 Panthers their second win in three games this week, while it is just the third loss for the now 19-3 Red Knights.

Pitcher Dominic Kempton hurled a gem for the Panthers as he fanned six, walked two and scattered five hits in a complete hame effort.

Buckeye Local tallied three times in the second and fifth frames.

Alex McDiffitt had an RBI double while Mason Griffin, Jordan Kovalski and Hayden Cihon all singled in a run each.

Cole Barcus had a two-run single for Toronto.

The Panthers travel to Union Local today, while Toronto hosts Newark Catholic on Saturday.

SOFTBALL

Panthers claw Red Knights

CONNORVILLE — The Buckeye Local softball team got a big day from Dankia Bauknecht and Karli Lander in a 10-6 victory over visiting Toronto on Thursday.

Bauknecht blasted two homers and drove in four runs, while Lander drove in three runs with a double and a single and struck out five batters in a complete game victory in the circle.

Avah Williams also drove in two runs for the now 13-11 Panthers.

For Toronto (8-11), Jaylee Brown had a double, two singles and an RBI, while Isabella Cattrell had a double and single.

The Panthers are at Bridgeport on Saturday to close the regular season, while the Red Knights visit Wellsville today.

Indian Creek falls to Ferry

WINTERSVILLE — Indian Creek’s softball team dropped a 9-2 decision to OVAC champion Martins Ferry on Thursday at home.

Rylee Sadler had a double and a single with two RBIs for Creek (8-13).

The Redskins travel to St. Clairsville today to close the regular season.