ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Wheeling Central won for the 17th consecutive time with an 8-3 decision over St. Clairsville Thursday in high school baseball action on the Memorial Park diamond.

Jake Brown went the distance on the mound, striking out seven, walking three and scattering four hits. He threw 88 pitches, with 57 being strikes.

Brady Ernest led the Maroon Knights (19-4) with a single and home run that produced two runs. Clay Petry singled in a pair, while Zayne Rosnick and Kade Koroneos evenly divided four singles. Rosnick had an RBI. Brown helped himself with a run-scoring triple, while Koy Lipinski had an RBI single.

Elijah Hill and Rowan Mellott had doubles for the Red Devils (12-13), with Mellott picking up an RBI. Jaxon Starks had an RBI.

Wheeling Park 4, Fairmont Senior 0

FAIRMONT — The Patriots’ Jaxson Updegraff and Dayton VanFossen pitched a shutout Thursday against the Polar Bears.

Updegraff picked up the win, going six innings and striking out six, while VanFossen struck out one in his lone frame.

Updegraff also doubled twice at the plate. Myles Gorby cranked a solo home run.

Indian Creek 8, Martins Ferry 3

MINGO JUNCTION – The Redskins (19-7) ran their winning streak to a pair of games with a victory over the visiting Purple Riders at the John Muth Recreational Complex.

Luke McVicker had a bases-clearing double to spark Indian Creek, which trailed 3-1 after four-and-a-half innings. Sylus Hyde singled twice to plate a pair of runs. Adam Brothers singled twice and Max Lane singled in a run.

Christian Shutler singled twice for Martins Ferry. Eli Smith drove in two runs with a single.

Tyler Consolidated 7, Cameron 3

KIDWELL – The host Silver Knights (15-16) scored twice in the bottom of the fifth and added two more runs an inning later against the Dragons.

Brennon Miller singled twice and drove in two runs for Tyler Consolidated, as did Grady Shortridge. Reece Davis and Ashton Morris each knocked in a run with a single and Brayden Neff singled twice.

Landen Francis doubled for Cameron.

Shadyside 6, Shenandoah 3

SHADYSIDE – The Tigers scored half of their runs in their first at-bat and cruised from there.

Jacob Allen had two singles and a run batted in, while Caden Jack had a pair of ribbies. Ryan Collins also recorded an RBI.

Jack went the first six frames, striking out three and walking none. He gave up eight hits.

Weir 7, John Marshall 6

MOUNDSVILLE — The Red Riders scored five runs in the first inning to put enough distance between themselves and the Monarchs on Thursday, holding on for a road win.

John Marshall scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull within one run, but couldn’t equalize in the seventh.

Monarch leadoff batter Hayden Hughes singled and doubled, driving in two, while Cain Martin homered and singled, also driving in two. Gavin Cline hit a two-run double as well for John Marshall.

Matt Geer doubled and singled for Weir while Nick DiMatteis hit a triple. DiMatteis also picked up the win on the mound, starting and pitching into the sixth. Kason Lash got the final four outs for a save.

SOFTBALL

Wheeling Central 11, St. Marys 3

WHEELING — The Maroon Knights are one step closer to the WVSSAC Class A state tournament after a dominant home win over the Blue Devils in Regional play.

Maddie Miehle finished a triple shy of the cycle, finishing with a game-high four RBI. Chloe Groome tallied three hits– a double and two singles– with two RBI, a total matched by Bella Rine, who tripled and singled.

Olivia Kiaski went the distance in the circle, striking out a pair and earning the win.

Central will play again against St. Marys or Cameron on Saturday. A victory will punch their ticket to the state tourney.

Martins Ferry 15, Harrison Central 3

MARTINS FERRY – The Purple Riders (23-3) tuned up for their Ohio Division V, East 2 District semifinal next week with a rout of the visiting Huskies.

Martins Ferry, which received a bye in the sectional and is seeded No. 2, scored at least one run in all five innings, snapping a 3-all deadlock with four runs in the bottom of the second.

Giana Chirpas belted her 11th and 12th home runs of the season and drove in six runs. Chirpas, an Ohio University recruit, now has 30 roundtrippers for her career.

Gracie Lucas continued her solid season with two singles and a grand slam, while Jayde Carman slugged a two-run homer and Maddie Lucas singled and doubled. Makayla Cole had two singles and Ava Rose picked up an RBI.

Monica Tedeschi earned the win with four innings of three-hit ball. She struck out two and walked one. Maddie Lucas worked a perfect fifth with one K.

Bailey Smith and Mikayla Pelegreen each homered for the Huskies (16-9), with Smith driving in two runs.