Union Local kept its OVAC girls' softball playoff hopes alive Monday afternoon, while also helping to turn the Buckeye 8 standings upside down.
Roger Herbert's Lady Jets (9-9) won for the third time in four games with an 8-inning, 3-2, triumph over Harrison Central (11-5) in Morrison.
Deadlocked at two after 6 frames, the hosts used a little two-out lightning in rallying.
Maddie Schafer drew a one-out walk and Shayna McGary was inserted to run. With two outs, Caitlin Sliva executed a hit-and-run to perfection as McGary sped towards third. When the throw rolled away, she headed for home and was safe, touching off a wild celebration.
Brittany Stack singled twice to knock in a run for Union Local. Barb Keiser doubled. Olivia Minamyer struck out two and walked one in scattering seven hits.
Kara Dunfee had two singles and a ribbie for the Huskies, who have dropped two of their last three. Kiley Staley and Paige Dunlap evenly divided four one-base raps.
Katie Ellzy fanned six and walked three in tossing a four-hitter.
The Jets travel to St. Clairsville today for a non-Buckeye 8 game. The Huskies travel to New Martinsville for a battle with Magnolia.
St. John Central 18, Steubenville 11
At Steubenville, the Irish (13-3) continued their winning ways despite being depleted by injuries.
St. John Central, which sits atop the OVAC Class A standings, trailed 7-6 before erupting for 10 sixth-inning tallies. it marked the second game in less than a week in which the Green-and-White had scored double digits in a single inning.
Kaydie Coppa and Sydney Helms each drove in two runs with a single and double. Kristen Russell had three ribbies on a pair of singles and a double. Gina Beekman and Cheyenne Harris each singled and recorded a trio of runs batted in. Hannah Absalom singled and doubled.
Beekman went the distance, striking out eight and walking two.
Big Red (5-14) issued 14 base-on-balls.
St. John Central, playing without senior catcher Rosa Young who suffered a concussion over the weekend, defeated Parkersburg 3-0 and Point Pleasant 5-0 Saturday in the Magnolia Tournament.
Beekman and Absalom each authored one-hitters.
The Irish travel back to New Martinsville Wednesday to meet Magnolia.
Bridgeport 3, Toronto 2
At Irene Ehni Memorial Field, Emily Nowakowski's RBI double to deep center with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Bulldogs (7-9) to their sixth win in seven outings.
Ashley Hadzima singled and stole second prior to Nowakowski's walk-off. She had earlier singled. Hadzima also tripled and knocked in a run. Sarah Bowers and Keri Renzler each singled twice.
Bridgeport, winners of four straight, hosts Shadyside today.
Magnolia 6, Martins Ferry 1
At New Martinsville, the Blue Eagles (19-2) continued their fine play as they scored five times in the second and third innings in defeating the visiting Purple Riders (7-7).
Kylie Stalder and Katie Webb each singled twice for Martins Ferry, which hosts Weir today. Cirstie Delguzzo struck out six.
Fort Frye 6, Monroe Central 2
At Beverly, Victoria Mimken struck out nine and helped herself with a triple and an RBI as Fort Frye beat Monroe Central.
Anne LaFollette doubled and drove in a run for the Seminoles (6-8).
