OVAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

Madonna edges Frontier to reach 1A final

ELM GROVE — Trailing by a run through four and a half innings in Monday’s OVAC Class 1A semifinal, the Madonna softball team came through with a comeback.

Tina Littleton’s RBI groundout in the sixth inning gave the top-seeded Blue Dons (17-3) their first lead of the game, and it stood up, as Madonna reached the championship game with a 4-3 victory over fourth-seeded Frontier.

Rylee Birkhimer tied the game with an RBI groundout an inning earlier and Madi Owens and Kendal Ryan hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the third inning. Peyton Conley struck out seven in the circle.

Madonna will meet Conotton Valley in the final. The Rockets topped Trinity in the other semifinal.

Toronto falls to River in 2A

ELM GROVE — After scoring the first four runs of the game, the Toronto softball team could not hang on as River flooded back for a 9-5 victory in the Class 2A semis on Monday at I-470.

Jaylee Brown had two doubles and two RBIs for the Red Knights (9-9) while Arianna Highsmith and Keiara Bailey, who tripled, also drove in a run each.

Toronto visits Brooke today.

OVAC BASEBALL

Toronto moves on to 2A title game

TORONTO — The Toronto baseball team broke a scoreless tie with a four-run third inning and did not look back, rolling to a 7-1 win over visiting Shadyside in the OVAC Class 2A semis on Monday at the KBC.

Drake Bouscher had a triple, single and two RBIs and pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts. Lucas Wiseman finished with three RBIs on the day.

Toronto (14-3) will meet River, the winner of the other semi Monday, in the final.

Edison falls in 4A

RICHMOND — Linsly scored the first seven runs in Monday’s OVAC Class 4A semifinal and did not look back, rolling to a 10-0 victory over Edison.

For the Wildcats (10-4), Brady Haught had two hits.

Edison visits Martins Ferry today.

REGULAR SEASON

BASEBALL

Red Riders make it three-in-a-row

CALCUTTA — The Weir High baseball team made it wins in three-straight games on Monday, blanking Beaver Local on the road 3-0.

Aleks Zanieski fired a complete game, two-hit shutout, striking out 14 batters in the win. He also hit a solo homer at the plate.

Nick DiMatteis and J McAllister also each had an RBI.

The Red Riders (11-12) host East Liverpool today.

Bruins walk-off winners over Oak Glen

WELLSBURG — The Brooke baseball team rallied from a two-run deficit for a 3-2 walk off win over Oak Glen on Monday.

Andrew Murdock was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh for the winning RBI. Aiden Lathem’s two-run single in the sixth had tied the game.

Geno Provenzano had two hits for the Bruins, while Nikos Palavis struck out 15 batters in 6 2/3 innings before reaching his pitch limit.

For Oak Glen (8-14) Kaiden Dragisich had two RBIs while James Rohbeck had a double, single and struck out 10 on the mound.

Brooke (9-15-1) visits St. Clairsville today, while Oak Glen visits Toronto on Wednesday.

Panthers claw Crusaders

CONNORVILLE — Catholic Central scored the first three runs but Buckeye Local battled back Monday for a 6-4 win at Mazeroski Field.

Tyler Schubert had a triple, single and three RBIs for Buckeye Local (4-12) while Coop Baker had two RBIs. Daniel Divjak struck out three and walked four in a complete game on the mound.

The Crusaders (3-10) got a double, two singles and three RBIs from Matty Jones, three hits from Tommy Symington and two hits and an RBI from JoJo Corabi.

The Panthers, winners of back-to-back games for the first time this season, look to make three in a row hosting Union Local today, while Central visits Bellaire Friday.

SOFTBALL

Brooke falls at Park

WHEELING — After Brooke took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Wheeling Park rallied back for a close, 3-2 win on Monday.

Avery Rado had a double, while Emma Teller and Emma Bober had an RBI each. Rado went the distance in the circle.

The Bruins (13-14) host Toronto today.