Tigers earn share of ACAC baseball title, but falls in season game against Braves
Bluffton earned at least a share of the ACAC Conference baseball championship Monday night.
The Tigers accomplished the feat without any work done on their own on Monday, but in the hands of the Adams Central Flying Jets, who defeated undefeated Heritage 8-0 on Monday. Because of Bluffton’s finished 5-1 conference record and Heritage losing a game, the Tigers clinched the share.
Heritage has one more game left to go to determine if it will share with Bluffton. They’re set to face South Adams Tuesday night.
Against Blackhawk Christain, Bluffton lost 2-1 at home Monday night.
With the loss, the Tigers fall to 12-8 on the season.
Bluffton had three hits, one each by Braxton Betancourt (double), Axton Beste and Eli Garrett. Nobody had an RBI.
Garrett pitched on the mound for the Tigers and got the loss, throwing five innings and allowed two runs and struck out five.
Colton Arnold threw two innings in relief and allowed no runs, hits or walks.
Bluffton will host Southern Wells in a nonconference game at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 14.
Girls’ tennis sectional pairings released
The girls’ tennis sectional pairings have been released by the IHSAA.
In Round 1 of Sectional 30 at Bluffton High School, the Bluffton Tigers will square off with Adams Central. The Jets defeated the Tigers earlier in the season 3-2. All sectional matches will start at 4:30 p.m. for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Teams will play simultaneously on both ends of the court.
The winner of that game will face South Adams.
On the other side of the bracket, Norwell will face Bellmont. The Knights defeated the Braves 4-1 earlier in the season.
Raiders top the Panthers in softball game
Southern Wells went on the road and defeated Lakewood Park Christian 8-3 in softball Monday night.
The Raiders boosted their record to 6-14 on the season.
Of the eight hits, the Raiders were led by Gracie Reeve’s three-hit night with two doubles. Kenzie Paxton went 2-4 with a double and four RBI, while Kyah Thomas went 1-3 with three RBI.
Kaylea Coffel threw a complete three-run game, with only one being earned. She struck out five and allowed five hits.
Southern Wells will host North Side for its final regular season game at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14.
Tigers rout Warriors in nonconference softball
Bluffton defeated Wes-Del on the road in softball 13-2 Monday night.
The Tigers improved to a 10-10 record with the win.
Bluffton tallied 15 hits, led by the 5-5 night for Averi Petty, who had five singles and five runs scored. Madyson Sonnigsen, Konley Ault and Madison Smith had two hit nights and RBI. Sonnigsen had a triple and Smith a double. Kayla Kiefer also had a hit and two RBI.
Sonnigsen got the win, throwing seven complete innings, allowing only three hits, two unearned runs and struck out nine.
Bluffton hosts Fremont at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15.
Tigers top Starfires in golf
Bluffton won on the road against South Adams in golf Monday at Wabash Valley.
The Tigers shot a 168 and the Starfires 178.
Leading the Tigers and the medalist was Declan Grieser with a score of 38, followed by Connor Klopfenstein (41), Kade Abbett (42), Max White (47) and Anthony Hartman (49).
Bluffton fell in the junior varsity match 199-212.
The Tigers were led by Kyler Potter with a score of 46, followed by Chris Castaneda (53), Will Ault (56), Hutch Craighead (57) and Landon Crist (62). Connor Collins (55) and Graham Linderwell (62) also participated.
Bluffton will host Eastbrook at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16.
Knights fall to Chargers in final girls’ tennis match
Norwell fell 4-1 at Carroll in its final girls’ tennis regular season match of the year.
The Knights finish with a 13-3 record.
Individual results:
• Jana Beier (C) defeated Addy Heyerly 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
• Kenna Shoup (C) defeated Delaney Hoover 6-4, 7-5 at No. 2 singles.
• Macie Saalfrank (N) defeated Megan McMillen 7-5, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
• Riley Glassley and Chloe Ceresa (C) Annabelle Johnson and Macy Felger 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles.
• Julianna Ounsonbath and Bianca Yaney (C) defeated Jordyn Xayyachack and Ciera Hiester 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.
Norwell won the junior varsity match 4-2.
Results for JV:
• Aubrey Meyer (N) defeated Brenna Bulock 8-5.
• Gabbi Hoeppner (N) defeated Grace Widenhofer 8-6.
• Lucy Gerbers (N) defeated Katie Gosheff 8-1.
• Nadja Smolorich (C) defeated Sam Evans 6-2.
• JJ Kokonaing and Christina Pulcini (C) defeated Hope Mitchell and Emmaline Johnson 8-4.
• Sam Evans and Aubryn Keller (N) defeated Amarah Trulock and Abbie Johnson 8-0.
Norwell will play Bellmont at Bluffton High School in Round 2 of the sectional tournament at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15.
Tigers play Patriots in middle school tennis
Bluffton played Jay County in middle school tennis Monday night.
The team plays its matches in a round-by-round format, playing for 20 minutes at a time.
Round winners:
Round 1: Parker Christal and Bear Sprunger.
Round 2: None
Round 3: Ethan Ribich and Dane Fieechter and Cooper Dunnuck and Heath Gerber.
Round 4: Ribich and Eli Seago.
Varsity round winners:
Fiecther, Jordan Simpson-Barkley, Christal and Ribich and
Ithan Rinkenberger and Seago.
