Tigers top Patriots, now one win away from ACAC title
Bluffton got the job done in ACAC baseball Thursday night and is now one win away from its first conference title since 2009.
The Tigers came away with a 5-4 victory at home against Jay County, holding off the Patriots’ three runs in the sixth and seventh innings combined. A solo shot brought the Patriots back down by one, but an inning-ending ground ball to Nick Pastore at second base sealed the deal.
Bluffton is now 5-0 in the ACAC and is 10-5 overall, also winning nine of its last 10 games. The win over Jay County stretches their winning streak to seven games.
Easton Blair led the team with the stick, driving in two runs with two hits and a double. Braxton Betancourt doubles in one of his two hits. Pastore also had an RBI single.
Betancourt got the win on the mound, throwing 5.1 innings worth and allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts.
Cameron Williams came in for Betancourt in the sixth and allowed a hit and two walks and finished the day recording one out. A.J. Streveler then relieved him and got crucial outs in the sixth and seventh for the same, throwing 1.1 innings and allowing one run and struck out one.
Bluffton’s next game will be at home against Eastbrook at 5 p.m. Monday, May 6. But the marque matchup will be on Tuesday when the Tigers go for the ACAC championship at home against the reigning champion Heritage Patriots.
Knights improve to 4-0 in NE8 baseball
Norwell beat East Noble 8-1 in home NE8 competition Thursday night.
Norwell improved its record to 11-4 on the season and 4-0 in conference play. Columbia City and Norwell are the two final unbeaten teams in the NE8, and will face head-to-head in two weeks on May 14.
Norwell’s 12 hits were led by Drew Graft, who went 3-4 at the plate. Lane Lewis and Logan Cotton had two hits and drove in runs. Collin Burnes had an RBI double, while Drew Jolley and Korben Neuenschwander brought home RBI.
Cade Shelton tossed the victory with six innings, two hits, one unearned run, two walks and 11 strikeouts. Noah Turk came in for an inning of relief and allowed no runs or hits.
Norwell will visit South Adams at 5 p.m. Monday, May 6.
Norwell picks up NE8 girls’ tennis win over East Noble
Norwell picked up a home tennis victory against East Noble 4-1 Thursday night.
The win brings the Knights’ record to 10-2 after the match.
Individual results:
• Addy Heyerly (N) defeated Sadie Potts 6-3, 6-1 at No. 1 singles.
• Delaney Hoover (N) defeated Maria Bona 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles.
• Macie Saalfrank (N) defeated Keegan Ball 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
• Ella Edwards and Rylie Pasztor (EN) defeated Annabelle Johnson and Macy Felger at No. 1 doubles.
• Jordyn Xayyachack and Ciera Hiester (N) defeated Cayden Hulbert and Makenna Storhm 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles
Norwell won the junior varsity match 7-3.
Results for JV:
Aubrey Meyer (N) defeated Ava Lash 8-1.
• Gabbi Hoeppner (N) defeated Kendyll Swary 8-0.
• Nara Laur (EN) defeated Lucy Gerbers 8-6.
• Ava Lash (EN) defeated Charli Swindell 6-2.
• Melissa Hoag (N) defeated Kendyll Swary 7-6(4).
• Nara Laur (EN) defeated Campbell Sloan 6-4.
• Hope Mitchell and Emmaline Johnson (N) defeated Madison Grawock and Kayona Linthicum 8-2.
• Sam Evans and Aubryn Keller (N) defeated Levi Moore and Sophia Kline 8-4.
• Carley Wolf and Isabella Hubble (N) defeated Madison Grawock and Kayona Linthicum 7-6(5).
• Hazel Lewis and Molly Threewits (N) defeated Levi Moore and Sophia Kline 6-3.
Norwell will play in the Tony Wright Memorial Tournament at Angola at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 4.
Raiders defeat Warriors in boys’ golf at Dogwood Glen
Southern Wells defeated Wes-Del at Dogwood Glen Thursday night.
The Raiders scored a 193 to the Warriors’ 216.
Leading scorer for the night and medalist was Gabe McElhaney, who shot a 43. Fol
lowing him was Dirk Frauhiger at (49), Tristen Worster (50), Chandler Oswalt(51) and Cash Banter (52).
Southern Wells will be at the Bi-County meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 4.
Tigers fall in boys’ golf to Patriots, Braves
Bluffton was beaten by Bellmont and the host Jay County in boys’ golf Thursday night.
Jay County was the top team at 164, shooting at Portland Country Club, while Bellmont was second at 168 and Bluffton third at 189.
The Tigers were led by Declan Grieser and Connor Klopfenstein with 45s, followed by Kade Abbett (49), Max White (50) and Anthony Hartman (52).
Bluffton will be at Wabash Valley Golf Course for the Bi-County golf meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 4.
Tigers swept by the Squires in girls tennis
Manchester visited Bluffton and came home with a 5-0 win in girls’ tennis Thursday night.
The loss puts Bluffton at 5-8 on the season.
Individual results:
• Sarah Kerlin defeated Hazel Pfister 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles.
• Myla Crozier defeated Eve Corkwell at No. 2 singles.
• Bethany Penrod defeated Alexis Grover 6-0, 6-0 at No.3 singles.
• Carleigh Blevins and Addison Brubaker defeated Emma Schwartz and Kinzie Fiechter 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles.
• Ava Baker and MArley Bellinger defeated Emily Drayer and Sophie Eisenhut 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 doubles.
Bluffton also fell in the junior varsity match 9-2.
Results for JV:
• Aleeah Grover and Madison Duncan (B) defeated Isabelle Anguilm and Kelzei Fox 6-1.
• Briell Coratti and Kenley Falk (B) defeated Tallulah Gawthorp and Adriana Escudero 6-3.
• Chase Blevins (M) defeated Isla Gibson 6-0.
• Haley Betten (M) defeated Anna Zurcher 6-0.
• Ruby Martin (M) defeated Olga Jardan 6-0.
• Sophie Anglin (M) defeated Isla Gibsson 6-1.
• Ella Bradley and Katie Jenkins (M) defeated Gissel Martinez and Zara Eisenhut 6-0.
• Maggie Onderki-White and Lexie Nichols (M) defeated Aleeah Grover and Madison Duncan 6-2.
• Audrey Sanson and Citali Quiroz-Alvarez (M) defeated Mary Beth Zurcher and Zoey Schmidt 6-0.
• Carrie Hoffmeyer and MaKayla Marcym (M) defeated Madison Murray and Anna Zurcher 7-5.
• Aisali Tynymbay and Victoria Lopez Uralde (M) defeated Zainab Ameen and Charos Anorboeva 7-5.
Bluffton will be at Bellmont at 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 6.
Tigers fall to Patriots in ACAC softball game
Bluffton lost at home to ACAC foe Jay County 16-5 in softball Thursday night.
The Tigers fall to 6-8 overall and 0-4 in the ACAC with the loss.
Bluffton complied six hits, two of which were solo home runs by Averi Petty and Madyson Sonnigson, who had two total hits in the game. Konley Ault drove in two with her double. Kayla Kiefer had an RBI single.
Tyrah Shaw picked up the loss in four innings.
Bluffton will be at Northfield at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 4.
