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This week in MOV athletics

Busy, busy week in the sports world.

A fantastic Wrestlemania 33 was last night, there will be new champions in NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hoops (did anyone see the overtime buzzer-beater Mississippi State’s Morgan William sank against UConn – Wow!), and I will be in heaven as Major League Baseball and my Red Sox are back in action Monday.

Mid-Ohio Valley’s sports scene may not have any championships up for grabs this week. However, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a bevel of exciting action going on throughout the valley.

Parkersburg High’s tennis team has a loaded schedule this week with five matches and the best was saved for Saturday.

The Big Reds will welcome in a talented Huntington tennis team expected to compete alongside PHS for a team state title. Jeff Olson and Heidi Asbury’s No. 1 boys’ singles player Zarion Jones faces off against the No. 20 nationally-ranked prep player, the Highlanders’ J.J. Mercer.

Unlike a lot of high school sports around the state (save basketball and football), I don’t get to see talent outside our area very often. However, I had the privilege to see Mercer play three times in the state tournament last season and whoa – he is impressive.

Attendees can catch the possible state title match preview at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Of course yours’ truly will be there for the entire event, and readers’s can expect a write-up on the entire day’s proceedings (PHS also plays Morgantown at 1 p.m.) in next Sunday’s edition.

This will be the Highlanders second trip to Parkersburg in less than a week.

They meet Parkersburg South for a 4 p.m. match Tuesday at the Erickson All-Sports Facility.

Ben White will face off against Mercer in a different kind of match than the one expected Saturday.

White is known for his dropshot and slice game and should keep his opponent guessing on what is coming next with every shot.

The Highlanders’ softball team is in town for a doubleheader with PHS at 1 p.m. Saturday in a twinbill of Mountain State Athletic Conference action. Ron Perdue’s team had some pitching hiccups out of the gate, but has recovered nicely the past week or so with some strong outings.

April 3-9 is a busy week for red and white softball supporters. Their team has three others events during the week. Perdue’s team hosts Capital at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Riverside at 7 p.m. Thursday, and Morgantown at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

I talked to the Big Red leader Friday night and he was hopeful the rest of the week would be dry after rain washed out a scheduled game against South Charleston Saturday.

Wednesday sees familiar foe’s Williamstown and St. Marys hook up on the diamond for a softball battle at 4:30 p.m. in Pleasants County.

John Mike Nichols’ Blue Devils are led by do-it-all hitter Jordan Fox, while Kayla Stanley’s Yellowjackets have tough hurler Nellie Fox and senior batter Courtney Dotson as team leaders.

Parkersburg South’s baseball and softball teams go head-to-head with their compatriots at Warren, Ohio, Monday and Tuesday respectively.

South, Williamstown and Belpre track and field squads head to the Marietta Night Relays for a 4 p.m. start Tuesday.

My associate sports editor Jordan Holland is looking forward to being in attendance.

Ripley and PHS track squads travel to the Sheetz Invite at Hurricane for a 10 a.m. start Saturday.

For a full schedule of each day’s events, make sure to pick up a copy of the News and Sentinel and flip to the scoreboard page for times and locations.

Happy reading and don’t get to wet outside everyone.

Contact Joe Albright at jalbright@newsandsentinel.com

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