The Ohio Valley Athletic Conference baseball and softball cut-off dates are fast approaching as teams jockey to try and finish in the top 4 of their respective classes.

Baseball’s cut-off date is Wednesday, meaning teams have just two days to try and qualify for the semifinals, which begin Saturday at the higher seeded team’s home field.

Locally, seven teams would make the field if the cut-off mark was today. They include St. Clairsville, Harrison Central and Martins Ferry in Class 4A; Bellaire in Class 3A; Bridgeport in 2A; and St. John Central in 1A.

Tom Sliva’s Red Devils have handled every team on their schedule thus far as they top the 4-A field with a spotless 12-0 mark and a 65.17 average, which leads all teams. Harrison Central (6-5, 38.36) sits in third, just ahead of Martins Ferry (8-6, 33.43). Union Local (5-7, 28.00) still has an outside shot as the Jets are fifth.

Edison (10-2, 57.50) appears to have locked up the No. 2 spot.

In 3A, the Big Reds (4-5, 28.44) hold down the fourth spot, a mere 1.1 points in front of Tyler Consolidated (8-4, 27.33).

Linsly (11-4, 44.00) leads the 3A standings, followed by Fort Frye (9-5, 37.43) and Shenandoah (6-2, 36.25).

In 2A, the Bulldogs (9-4, 33.38) are on the proverbial bubble at fourth. Clay-Battelle (5-2, 30.00) sits in fifth.

Leading the class is Toronto (13-1, 51.86), which is followed by Caldwell (9-0, 49.11) and Steubenville Catholic (8-2, 48.00).

The Class 1-A field has the Irish (4-7, 13.64) currently in third. Paden City (9-2, 36.73) and Bishop Donahue (7-3, 29.40) have already clinched the top two seeds.

Conotton Valley (2-4, 12.67) is fourth, but Trinity Christian (4-8, 11.67) still has a chance.

The 5A field is topped by Steubenville (12-2, 63.29), with Morgantown (9-5, 48.86) second and University (12-2, 43.430 third. Brooke (8-6, 42.57) holds down the fourth spot, just 2.07 points in front of Cambridge (7-5, 40.50).

IN SOFTBALL, eight area teams in still in the hunt for playoff berths, with the cut-off date set for Saturday. They are St. Clairsville, Martins Ferry and Harrison Central in Class 4A; River and Monroe Central in 3A; Shadyside and Bridgeport in 2A; and St. John Central in 1A.

In Class 4-A, the Red Devils (14-0, 67.71) top the field. Meadowbrook (9-1, 57.20) is second, with Oak Glen (10-5, 45.33) third. The Purple Riders (7-6, 39.54) are a mere 0.43 points ahead of the Huskies (5-4, 39.11).

Edison (7-8, 31.47) is sixth.

The 3A field consists of front-runner Buckeye Trail (8-2, 48.60), Monroe Central (8-3, 40.73), River (13-3, 39.50) and Fort Frye (5-4, 32.00).

Shenandoah (5-5, 25.00) and Linsly (4-6, 25.00) are still mathematically alive.

Seven teams still have a shot in 2A, but Steubenville Catholic (10-2, 48.50) and Wheeling Central (14-5, 44.95) have locked up the top two spots. Shadyside (6-3, 39.56) is third, followed by Bridgeport (12-4, 36.13). Toronto (7-6, 31.23) and Clay-Battelle (6-4, 30.89) are still in the mix.

The 1A field seems to be the weakest as Madonna (8-3, 38.18), Bishop Donahue (7-6, 28.00) and St. John Central (4-6, 22.40) are the top three teams. Trinity Christian (1-1, 15.00) is currently fourth, with Hundred (1-6, 10.00), Paden City (4-9, 9.85) and Conotton Valley (2-5, 8.86) still with chances.

Downing Gets 300th

Congratulations go out to Bridgeport head baseball coach Ted Downing who reached a milestone Saturday afternoon. When the Bulldogs defeated Cameron in the second game of a doubleheader, the victory was No. 300 for Downing.

Of that win total, 245 came when Downing coached at Eastern and Greenfield high schools, respectively.

“Three hundred is a pretty good number, but coaches don’t get there without some good players and assistant coaches,” Downing allowed. “I tried when I was younger to do it all, but you just can’t.”

North can be reached at knorth@timesleaderonline.com