MOUNDSVILLE — Last Friday night, the Ohio Valley had its ‘Night to Shine.’

And amongst the many volunteers at the annual event, which serves as a prom for people with special needs, were some 30 Wheeling Jesuit University baseball players who took part simply as a way to give back.

“This was our first time taking part in the event and when we first got involved, I thought it was more like the Miracle League, which we help with,” Jesuit head coach Terry Edwards said. “This was 10 times bigger, though. We were happy, honored and privileged to take part.”

The event, which is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and ran locally by Bowman United Methodist Church in Glen Easton, attracted more than 150 guests and a similar number of volunteers.

Many of the Cardinals’ players served as a “buddy” to one of the event’s honored guests. And it’s probably safe to say the Cardinals had as good of a time as the actual guests.

“I’m really lucky because we have a great group of guys on this team,” Edwards said. “Most of our guys have things in perspective and if they didn’t, they got an eye-opener to realize how fortunate they are.”

With many of the players being just a few years removed from high school themselves, they got to turn back the clocks for much of the night. The prom featured basically all of the same amenities that the average high school prom has. From pictures to limo rides to flowers to a meal, the ‘Night to Shine’ had it all.

Though the Cardinals were just a few days away from making their season debut, Edwards had no doubts when approached by event organizer Kristi Crawford about volunteering.

“We’ll definitely be back to help again next year,” Edwards said. “Kristi and her group did a great job. This is a huge undertaking and such an impressive evnet. It’s really a feel-good moment for me and our program to be able to give back.”

HARD TO BELIEVE

Where does the time go? That has to be the question that former Shadyside High standouts Karli Bonar and Hayley Holenka are asking themselves this morning.

Both talented basketball players will celebrate senior days today as their collegiate careers wind down. Bonar, who has set the University of Findlay career 3-point record with 256, will take on the nation’s number-one ranked team, Ashland, which is undefeated. Bonar has 940 career points with the Oilers.

Holenka, meanwhile, has had an impressive season and career at Bethany College. Just recently, Holenka surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career and had a career-high 35 points in a recent double-overtime loss to Washington & Jefferson. She had 12 points in a win over Chatham on Wednesday. The Bison will host Grove City today at 2 p.m.

GOOD NEWS FOR KROLL

Just last week, former Bridgeport Bulldog all-stater Caitlyn Kroll announced via her Twitter account that she had been cleared to return to basketball at Division I St. Francis, Pa. She sustained a knee injury late in her senior season. She’s since undergone two knee surgeries and was red-shirted this winter.

ROBINSON SHINES AT PSU

Former St. Clairsville standout Alyssa Robinson is enjoying a strong start to her senior season with the Nittany Lions track team.

Robinson picked up her thrd victory of the season at the Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup in State College. The two-time Division II state shot put champion won the title with a mark of 52-3 1/4. She placed second in the weight throw with a mark of 57-ft-5.

Robinson, who will compete in the Big Ten Championships next weekend in Geneva, is currently ranked 18th in the country with a mark of 53-5 3/4.

EATON MAKING A SPLASH

St. Clairsville grad Michael Eaton, who is a former Division II state runnerup in the 100 breaststroke, is continuing to enjoy a solid season — and career — at Ohio State University.

In the Buckeyes’ dual against Wright State, Eaton swam a 57.82, which was good enough for second place in his specialty.

The Buckeyes are off until next week when they host the Big Ten Championships at McCorkle Pavillion.

NATIONALLY RANKED PIONEERS

The Marietta College mens’ basketball team recently broke into the NCAA top 10 rankings. Helping to fuel the Pioneers’ success, which includes a 17-4 record, is Linsly graduate Anthony Wallace. He’s the Pioneers’ third-leading scorer at 13.2 points a game. He’s shooting 50 percent from the field and pulling down 4.5 rebounds per contest.

Wallace was recognized as Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Week last month after he averaged 23 points and five rebounds in two wins.

WOODING HONORED

Linsly grad Von Wooding, who enjoyed a brilliant freshman campaign for the Oberlin College football team was honored as the team’s “defensive newcomer of the year” during the team’s recent banquet.

Wooding’s season saw him rank third on the Yeoman’s roster with 70 tackles. He played in all 10 games and had 6.5 tackles for loss.

ELLZY ON THE MEND

Robert Morris’ softball team got off to a slow start during its opening weekend, falling three times. However, the Colonials were without their ace pitcher. Former Harrison Central standout Katy Ellzy is expected to miss a good chunk of the early season as she recovers from a stress fracture in her shin. She’s currently in a walking boot, which she thought she might be in for more than a month. Last season, Ellzy was 14-14 with a 2.87 earned run average in the circle.

STEPHENS ON THE MOVE

Former Linsly School standout Alex Stephens, who was the top hitter for Morehead State last season, has transferred from the Kentucky-based school. Stephens is now listed on the roster for Southeastern University, which is a junior college in Florida.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

The college baseball season opened on Friday around the country. Several former Ohio Valley players are currently playing key roles at the Division I level. Earlier this week, I wrote about St. Clairsville’s Michael Jacob, who is at Toledo and Linsly’s Logan Goodnight, who is at Penn State.

Wheeling Park’s Michael Grove is expected to get the start tonight for West Virginia on the mound. He had a brilliant freshman campaign and has worked to become the Mountaineers’ number two pitcher.

Another Park grad, Andrew Kowalo was in the starting lineup for Liberty University in its season opener Friday afternoon.

Brooke product Russell Schwertfeger, who played at Potomac State, started in centerfield for USC-Upstate.