CADIZ — The Barnesville Shamrocks will spend the weekend wondering, “what if.”
Despite a gritty start from senior ace Dylan Blon and a golden scoring opportunity in the fourth inning, the top-seeded Shamrocks could not find the clutch hit — or the footing — needed to crack the scoreboard Friday, May 1, 2026.
That inability to capitalize on a mid-game scoring surge left the door wide open for No. 3 seed Wheeling Central Catholic to run away with an 8-0 shutout in the OVAC baseball championship in chilly conditions at Bill Mazeroski Field.
The loss dropped Barnesville to 14-4 on the season, while the Maroon Knights improved to 17-4.
Knights strike first
For the first two innings, the title game was a scoreless stalemate. Wheeling Central broke the ice in the top of the third when Zayne Rosnick ripped an RBI double off Blon, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead.
The turning point
Barnesville’s defining moment arrived in the bottom of the fourth. Trailing by the single run, the Shamrocks manufactured their lone scoring threat against Wheeling Central starter Steven Brodegard. Parker Sobutka ignited the rally with a leadoff single, followed by Brylon Lucas drawing a walk to give the Shamrocks a pair of base runners.
With two runners aboard and one out, Keegan Martin smashed a line drive down the left field line for a base hit. However, the potential game-tying run vanished when Evan Wells — pinch-running for Sobutka — slipped on the wet turf while rounding third base. He was thrown out at the plate, and Brodegard struck out the next hitter to escape the jam unscathed.
Momentum shifts
Barnesville head coach D.J. Butler insisted on taking full responsibiliy for the play that shifted the game’s trajectory.
“I cost us a run there. … I probably should have held him with having a good bat coming up,” Butler said. “I think that gave them the momentum.”
The Maroon Knights wasted no time feeding off that shift. In the top of the fifth inning, Wheeling Central translated that defensive spark into a crushing six-run, six-hit explosion that put the game out of reach.
Duel on the mound
Brodegard earned the win on the mound for the Knights, delivering a masterful six scoreless innings. He scattered six hits, while racking up nine strikeouts, to keep the Shamrocks’ offense at bay.
Blon took the loss for Barnesville. He worked 4⅓ innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits. He finished his outing with five strikeouts and two walks before the Central bats broke the game open in the top of the fifth.
Box score notables
Sobutka led the Barnesville offense with a 2-for-3 night, including two singles. Blake Burkhart, Brayden Watters, Martin, and Jack Anderson each added a single in the game.
For Wheeling Central, Rosnick finished with two doubles and three RBIs, while Matt Crinti was a perfect 3-for-3 effort with a double, two singles and an RBI.
Looking ahead
Despite the sting of the championship loss, Butler remained focused on the long road ahead for his Shamrocks.
“We came up short tonight, but I’m proud of these boys,” Butler said. “And we still have a lot of baseball to play. We have the Buckeye 8 tournament and then the OHSSA tournmant. I’m confident these boys will continue to grind each and every day, like they have all season.”
KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Wheeling Central blanks Top-seeded Barnesville for OVAC 3A crown
Reporting by Kevin Sutton, Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian / The Daily Jeffersonian
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