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This week in MOV athletics

West Virginia High School softball and baseball grab the spotlight for the last three weeks of the 2016-17 scholastic sports calendar.

Vienna plays host to the state softball tournament Wednesday and Thursday. Unfortunately, no Mid-Ohio Valley teams qualified for the event. Williamstown came closest after a 6-2 loss to Sherman in Game 3 of its regional final.

All 2016 state champions have the opportunity to defend their titles. Hurricane goes for three straight in Class AAA, while Class AA Chapmanville and Class A Wheeling Central look for back-to-back championship reigns.

Central, the Region I conqueror, is part of the tournament’s opening game against Region III winner Fayetteville at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday on Field 3 at Jackson Park.

Three local baseball teams are still alive and can punch tickets to the state championship June 1-3 at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston. Ripley battles in Class AAA, while Ravenswood and Tyler Consolidated have best-of-three series of their own in Class A.

Shane Casto’s Viking squad stands as the final obstacle against Hurricane making it a double-dip state tournament trip in both bat and ball sports in 2017.

The Vikings make two bus rides for Tuesday’s Game 1 and Thursday’s Game 3 in Hurricane, but host Game 2 at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Ripley’s conundrum is slowing down an offense that outscored them 28-6 over two games this season. Viking hitters also need to solve Redskins’ pitcher Garrett Gress, who owns a 9-0 record and 0.81 ERA this season.

Depending on usage, there is a chance Gress may see action twice in the series.

Low scoring contests could work in Ripley’s favor, the Vikings own an immaculate 10-0 mark in games decided by three runs or less this season. Meanwhile, Hurricane was 3-4 in said contests.

Ravenswood head man Wes Swain’s team blanked 2016 state champion Wahama in the deciding game of the Class A Region IV, Section 1 championship and earned dates with Buffalo Tuesday-Thursday.

The Red Devils host the Bison in Games 1 and 3, with both games scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.

Solid play in all facets of the game led to big success for the Red Devils and have put them on the precipice of their first trip to the state tournament since winning it all in Class AA in 1999.

Tyler Consolidated head man Robby Jones and his crew travel to 2016 state runner-up Wheeling Central for Games 1 and 3 in Class A, Region I action.

The series proves a new frontier for both schools as they did not meet earlier this year.

While the starting pitchers and more are known for all series, I am going to defer to colleague Jay W. Bennett’s regional preview — set for Tuesday morning’s paper — to break down everything in further detail.


A hearty congratulations goes out to the St. Marys’ boys’ track and field team on capturing the Class A title on the last event of the day Saturday in Charleston.

It has been quite the year for Blue Devils athletics.

The track and field win made it three state titles in a single season for the Pleasants County school. Football finished off an undefeated season with a championship game win, while the cross country team captured the inaugural Class A title this past fall.

Contact Joe Albright at jalbright@newsandsentinel.com.

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