Red Knights rally to upset River in sectional opener

HANNIBAL — The Toronto softball team got its bats going when it needed them most Monday.

The Red Knights scored 11 runs in the final three innings to rally from a four-run hole and toppled River, 12-8, in the opening round of the Division VII, East District tournament.

The Knights (10-13) are the No. 7 seed. River was seeded sixth.

Anna Wright had a triple, double and single with two RBIs, while Laney Danko was 4 for 4 with a double and four RBIs, Isabella Cattrell had a double, single and two RBIs, Jaylee Brown had a double, single and an RBI and JJ Rebich doubled and drove in two runs.

Danko was the winning pitcher in relief tossing the final four inning. Her and Madison Asafailo each fanned three.

The Red Knights move on to take on No. 3 seed Caldwell on Thursday.

Central falls at Beallsville

BEALLSVILLE — The Catholic Central softball team’s return season concluded on Monday with a 21-11 loss on the road at Beallsville in the Division VII, East District sectionals.

The Crusaders, who were the No. 11 seed, conclude with a mark of 4-11. They lose just one senior in Taylor Ensminger.

Beallsville, the No. 9 seed, advances to face top seed Conotton Valley on Wednesday.

Buckeye falls at Barnesville

BARNESVILLE — The Buckeye Local softball team’s season finished on Monday with a 9-5 loss at Barnesville in Division V East District sectional action.

The Panthers, who were the No. 8 seed, finish with a mark of 14-11.

Barnesville, the No. 5 seed, advances to face No. 4 seed Edison on Thursday.

REGULAR SEASON

Red Riders top Ferry

MARTINS FERRY – The visiting Red Riders and Purple Riders combined for seven home runs, with Weir Highslugging four of them in a 10-6 win.

Kylie Dean belted two roundtrippers for Weir, driving in three runs. She also singled. Rayna Hoover and Loganne Barton also went deep, with both plating a pair of runs. Hoover added a single, as well. Bella Weber, the winning pitcher in relief, had a trio of singles.

Giana Chirpas homered for the 13th time, a single-season Martins Ferry record, and singled twice and drove in two runs. Abbey Snedeker and Averi Hughes each homered, singled twice and knocked in two runs.

The Red Riders, who added the game to their schedule as they await next week’s regional tournament, are now 26-7.

BASEBALL

TOURNAMENT

Weir falls in opener

GRAFTON — The Weir High baseball team’s rally in its Class AAA Region 1 opener came up just short as the Red Riders fell in the first round of the double elimination bracket, 5-4, at Grafton on Monday.

Graftion erased an early 2-0 Red Rider lead with a five-run third inning and held off Weir from there. Weir got within a run with two in the fifth.

Colson Kimmel had two hits for the Red Riders, while Cayden Braswell and Niko Glass each drove in a run.

The Red Riders (11-17) will play an elimination game on Wednesday.

Golden Bears fall

SISTERSVILLE — The Oak Glen baseball team dropped a 5-1 decision at Tyler Consolidated in the opening round of the Class AA Region 1 tournament on Monday.

The Golden Bears (12-17) got a double and an RBI from Sam Jenkins and a double from Maddox McKay.

Noah Willey struck out six and walked six in four innings on the mound. Josh Maher worked a scoreless final two innings.

The Bears will play an elimination game on Wednesday.

REGULAR SEASON

Edison blanks Bellaire

RICHMOND — The Edison baseball team got a strong pitching performance and the bats going to take advantage of it in an 8-0 victory over Bellaire on Monday.

Bildcats starter Brady Haught fired 10 strikeouts with one walk in six scorless innings, scattering three hits, while Cole Pittman fired a scoreless seventh.

JD Henderson had a triple and an RBI, while Kyle Long doubled and had three hits, Evan Kimmerle had two hits and an RBI and Bryce Rogers plated three runs.

Edison, now 15-7, is at Indian Creek today.