Defending state champion Wheeling Central Catholic survived a thriller to open the 2026 WVSSAC Class AA State Baseball Tournament.

The Maroon Knights scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat James Monroe, 2-1, in a quarterfinal matchup at Marshall University's Jack Cook Field.

With the game tied at 1 and the bases loaded, Brady Ernest's infield pop-up dropped just out of reach, allowing Matt Criniti to score the walk-off run and send Wheeling Central to the state semifinals.

The game featured a standout pitching duel between Division I arms. Akron signee Brayden Cover struck out 12 batters in five innings for Central, while WVU commit Kadyn Hines allowed just two hits and struck out eight for James Monroe.

Kade Koroenos delivered the Maroon Knights' first hit of the game, a game-tying RBI triple in the sixth inning.

Wheeling Central advances to the Class AA semifinals and remains in pursuit of a second consecutive state championship.