By JIM METCALFE
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DELPHOS — Defense in the game of baseball or fast-pitch softball is all about catching, throwing and fielding.
Jefferson’s softball squad struggled with that part of the game Friday night, committing nine miscues in the field in falling 12-1 to Paulding in six innings in Northwest Conference action at Lady Wildcat Field.
It was that defensive struggle that was on the mind of first-year Jefferson head man Josiah Stober.
“We beat ourselves tonight with our defense. We made a lot of mental mistakes in those physical errors as well,” Stober began. “We talk to our girls a lot about thinking ahead and knowing where to go with the ball, as well as focusing on finishing the plays. We have to get better there, no doubt.”
Paulding head man Matt Carr was just happy his team put the ball in play.
“No doubt, we got help from their defense but we made them make those plays. We are hitting the ball hard,” Carr acknowledged. “That has been a big stress this week for us; make contact.”
Those errors meant that only one of the Lady Panthers’ 12 runs that Jefferson starter Taylor Branham (0-9) gave up in her six innings was earned. The Panthers (5-7, 3-3 NWC) got their only earned run in the top of the first on a walk, a single (Kelsey Beck) and a wild pitch, plating Alexis Rue.
Jefferson (0-11, 0-6 NWC) tied it up in the home half against freshman Kristen Schilt (2-1) on a leadoff triple to left by Fallon Van Dyke and a wild pitch.
However, junior first sacker Jasmine McDougall had to leave the lineup due to injury.
The Panthers opened up a 6-run lead in the top of the second, piecing together three miscues along the way. They also had a walk, a hit batter and three hits, including back-to-back 2-run singles by Breana Schmidt and Jerika Bland, to gain that 7-1 spread when the smoke had cleared.
The Wildcats tried to answer in the second on 1-out back-to-back singles (Samantha Branham and Alexis Cook) and a sacrifice bunt (Kayla Kill) but could not score.
Paulding left two stranded in the third and the bases loaded in the fourth, though they did score a run in the latter on a leadoff triple by Beck (3-for-4, 3 runs) and an error.
Delphos again put two on in the home half of the fourth on 2-out infield hits (S. Branham and Cook) but again, could not score.
The visitors made it 10-1 in the fifth as they used two more misplays by the Wildcats and one single, a run-scoring liner to left by Beck.
Paulding tacked on their final two tallies in the top of the sixth, once more gaining help via a pair of errors, plus adding a free pass and a hit. Trying to get two runs to extend the game, Jessica Pimpas led off the Jefferson sixth with a bloop to right but was eliminated on a Sarah Thitoff grounder. She advanced on a Kamie Pulford groundout and stole third but got no farther.
Stober was pleased with the offensive attack.
“Our bats have come alive the last three or four games. We’ve worked hard on our form and we’re swinging them well,” Stober added. “We’re putting the ball in play and not striking out nearly as much as we were earlier this season. We even had some hard-hit balls go right to them, so we had some bad luck. Taylor also pitched better than the result.”
Carr was extremely happy with his pitching.
“That was only Kristen’s third varsity start and she did fine,” he added. “When she throws strikes, she is very effective. That allows her to mix her changeup in with her other pitches and our defense is on its toes, like tonight.”
Both teams return to NWC action 5 p.m. Monday: Jefferson at Crestview and Paulding at Allen East.

PAULDING (12)
ab-r-h-rbi
Morgan Riley 3b 3-1-0-0, Alexis Rue cf 2-2-0-0, Suzanne Reinhart ph/cf 1-0-0-0, Kelsey Beck c 4-3-3-1, Breana Schmidt 1b 4-1-1-2, Jerika Bland ss 4-0-1-2, Emily Farr dp 3-0-1-0, Kandee Manson rf 0-0-0-0, Alyssa Shelmadine rf 0-0-0-0, Kristen Schilt p 3-2-2-0, Brooke Combs 2b 3-1-0-0, Melissa Durham 2b 1-0-0-0, Abby Pease lf 3-1-0-0, Kastin Kelly ph 1-1-0-0. Totals 32-12-8-5.

JEFFERSON (1)
ab-r-h-rbi
Fallon Van Dyke cf 3-1-1-0, Hannah Sensibaugh 3b 3-0-0-0, Taylor Branham p 3-0-1-0, Jasmine McDougall 1b 1-0-0-0, Jessica Pimpas 1b 2-0-1-0, Sarah Thitoff dp 3-0-0-0, Kimber Kill lf 0-0-0-0, Brandy White lf 0-0-0-0, Kamie Pulford ss 3-0-0-0, Samantha Branham c 2-0-2-0, Alexis Cook 2b 2-0-2-0, Kayla Kill rf 1-0-0-0, Bailey Gorman rf 0-0-0-0. Totals 23-1-7-0.

Score by Innings:
Paulding 1 6 0 1 2 2 - 12
Jefferson 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 1
E: Pimpas 3, S. Branham 2, T. Branham, Pulford, Kay. Kill, White; LOB: Paulding 9, Jefferson 6; 2B: Beck; 3B: Beck, Van Dyke; SB: Schilt, Pease, Kelly, Thitoff; CS: Riley (by T. Branham); Sac: Ka. Kill.

IP H R ER BB SO
PAULDING
Schilt (W, 2-1) 6.0 7 1 1 0 5
JEFFERSON
T. Branham (L, 0-9) 6.0 8 12 1 5 3
WP: T. Branham 4; PB: S. Branham 4; HBP: Rue (by T. Branham).

By JIM COX

DHI Correspondent

MIDDLE POINT - In a well-played game between two hard-hitting teams, the Lincolnview defense was the difference in a 7-3 fast-pitch win over Allen East Thursday afternoon. The Lady Lancers are now 11-2 overall, 4-1 in the Northwest Conference. The Lady Mustangs are 11-7 and 2-4.

Lincolnview jumped on Mustang starter Aubrin Davis for three runs in the top of the first. Centerfielder Jodie Doner poked a single to right center to start the inning. Autumn Proctor followed with an unusual at-bat. Proctor fouled off two bunt attempts from the left side, then switched to the right side of the plate and blasted a homer off the scoreboard in left center, the first round-tripper of her career.

Proctor’s blast disabled the scoreboard until it came to life in the fifth inning. Leftfielder Devan Springer was hit by a pitch and third baseman Kelsey Mohr plated Springer with a double to the gap in right center to make it 3-0 after one inning.

The Lancers added another run in the third. With one out, second baseman Kaitlyn Brant and Springer were each hit by Davis pitches. Shortstop Bailey Neate roped a double into the gap in left center, scoring Brant.

Mustang shortstop Kayce Rowe started the fourth inning by blasting a long homer to dead center to narrow the gap to 4-1 but Lincolnview came right back in the bottom half with two tallies.

First baseman Macey Ashbaugh started the inning with a walk, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Davis fanned the next batter but Doner blooped an opposite-field single to right, putting runners on the corners. Doner then took second without a throw. Proctor bounced to shortstop Rowe who threw home, nailing Ashbaugh, the play ending with Doner on third and Proctor on second. Brant’s frozen-rope single hit the fence in left center, bringing in Doner and Proctor to make it 6-1, Lancers, after four.

Allen East made it interesting in the top of the sixth, scoring twice on a walk, hit batter and 2-run double by centerfielder Kylie Wyss.

Doner provided an insurance run in the bottom half by smoking a liner over the fence in dead center for the first homer of her 4-year career.

Lancer hurler Ashley McClure went the distance, giving up the three runs, all earned, on five hits, while striking out five, walking only one and hitting one batter. She threw 101 pitches, 63 of which were strikes. She was aided by stellar defensive play from her infielders and outfielders, getting particularly outstanding catches by Doner and Springer.

Lincolnview coach Kent McClure was an understandably happy man afterwards. “I love speed in the outfield. The girls absolutely cover the ground. I can’t remember our defense ever being this good. We knew they could hit. They’re a very good offensive team. Ashley shut them down pretty well, changing location, in and out, mixing the off-speed in, fast ball up. They had some good hits on the ball but defensively, the infield made some nice plays. I’d put my middle infield (Neate and Brant) against a lot of people.”

Doner also led Lincolnview hitters, going 3-for-4, including a homer, scoring once and driving in one. Proctor was 1-for-3 with a homer, scoring twice and driving in two. Brant was 1-for-3, scored one and driving in two. Neate and Mohr had identical stat lines — 1-for-3 with a double and one RBI.

For the Lady Mustangs, Rowe went 1-for-3 with a homer, scored once and drove in one. Wyss was 1-for-3 with a double and drove in two.

Davis took the loss, throwing 3.2 innings, yielding six runs, all earned, on seven hits, striking out three, walking one and hitting three batters.

Rowe relieved and pitched the remaining 2.1 innings, giving up one run, earned, on one hit, walking one and striking out one.

Allen East (ab-r-h-rbi)

Rowe ss/p 3-1-1-1, Rodriguez 1b/ss 2-1-1-0, Conkle c 3-0-1-0, Schantz 3b 2-1-0-0, Wyss cf 3-0-1-2, Mertz 3-0-0-0, Sizemore dp 3-0-1-0, Meeker rf 0-0-0-0, Aubrin p/dh 2-0-0-0, Rex 1b 1-0-0-0, Richardson 3-0-0-0. Totals 25-3-5-3.

Lincolnview (ab-r-h-rbi)

Doner cf 4-3-3-1, Proctor dp 3-2-1-2, Brant 2b 3-1-1-2, Springer lf 2-1-1-0, Neate ss 3-0-1-1, Mohr 3b 3-0-1-1, Calvert c 3-0-0-0, Ashbaugh 1b 2-0-0-0, Thatcher rf 3-0-0-0, McClure p 0-0-0-0. Totals 26-7-8-7.

Score by Innings:

Allen East 000 101 0 - 3 5 1

Lincolnview 301 201 x 0 7 8 0

WP: McClure; LP: Davis. DP: Allen East 1. LOB: Allen East 4, Lincolnview 6. 2B: Wyss, Neate, Mohr. HR: Rowe, Doner, Proctor.

——-

Mustangs edge by Lancers

RURAL MIDDLE POINT — Allen East scored four times in the top top of the sixth frame en route to a 5-3 Northwest Conference baseball victory over Lincolnview at Lincolnview High School.

Kyle Williams (1-1) took the loss for the Lancers (5-10, 2-4 NWC).

“Kyle did a good job for us on the mound again and we just couldn’t get a win for him. We continue to play fairly well on defense,” Lincolnview coach Kevin Longstreth noted. “We need to continue to develop at the plate. We have taken enough reps and played enough games for us to be better hitters than we are showing.”

Next game is at Wayne Trace tonight (5 p.m.).

Lincolnview 3

ab r h rbi

Nick Leeth 2 2 0 0, Kyle Williams 4 0 1 0, Matt Oechsle 4 0 0 0, Conner McCleery 1 1 1 2, Austin Leeth 3 0 1 0, Derek Youtsey 3 0 0 0, Derek Friesner 2 0 1 0, Tyler Richey 3 0 0 0, Troy Patterson 3 0 1 1, Austin Leeth 3 0 0 0. Totals 28 3 5 3.

Score by Innings:

Allen East 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 - 5

Lincolnview 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 - 3

SB: N. Leeth 3.

Staff reports

DELPHOS — New Knoxville got a 3-run home run by Meyer in the top of the fifth inning to grab a 6-3 lead and held on for a 6-5 Midwest Athletic Conference triumph over host St. John’s Thursday at Stadium Park.

The Blue Jays (4-11, 1-4 MAC) out-hit the Rangers 11-10 but left 13 runners on base.

“We hit the ball well; we’ve been coming around there. We’re putting ourselves in position to score,” Jays coach Ryan Warnecke said. “However, we didn’t come up with the clutch hit in the big situations. That is something we have to get better at doing.”

However, five errors on the defensive side made things tough for starter Troy Warnecke and reliever Drew Wagner.

“It’s starting to become an issue. We made one step forward and go back two more,” the coach added. “It’s hard to get out there on the mound when you’re unsure of those behind you making plays. It’s not that we’re not fielding the ball — we are; we’re just throwing the ball all over the field. It’s a lack of concentration; it’s more mental now.”

St. John’s hits the road to New Bremen 5 p.m. today for another MAC encounter.

NEW KNOXVILLE (6)

ab-r-h-rbi

Howe 3b 3-0-1-0, Wolf lf 4-0-0-0, Allen c 4-2-3-0, Shreve p 4-1-0-0, Porter 1b 4-1-2-3, Topp ss 4-1-2-0, Meyer 2b 4-1-1-2, Shaw rf 3-0-1-0, Scott cf 3-0-0-0. Totals 33-6-10-5.

ST. JOHN’S (5)

ab-r-h-rbi

Curtis Geise ss 3-1-1-1, Andrew Metzger cf 3-2-1-1, Ryan Buescher c 4-0-1-1, Troy Warnecke p/2b 3-0-1-1, T.J. Hoersten 1b 4-0-1-0, Craig Klausing 3b 4-0-1-0, Clay Courtney rf 4-1-3-0, Gage Seffernick 2b 3-1-1-0, Drew Wagner p 0-0-0-0, Ben Wrasman lf 3-0-1-0. Totals 31-5-11-4.

Score by Innings:

N. Knoxville 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 - 6

St. John’s 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 - 5

E: Klausing 3, Porter 2, Geise 2, Allen, Meyer; LOB: New Knoxville 7, St. John’s 13; 2B: Hoersten, Wrasman; HR: Meyer; SB: Metzger; CS: Topp (by Buescher); Sac: Hoersten; SF: Geise.

IP H R ER BB SO

NEW KNOXVILLE

Shreve (W) 7.0 11 5 3 6 0

ST. JOHN’S

Warnecke (L) 5.0 10 6 5 0 6

Hoersten 2.0 0 0 0 1 1

HBP: Metzger (by Shreve); PB: Allen 2, Buescher 2.

By JIM METCALFE

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DELPHOS — Columbus Grove got the bats out early and often at Wildcat Field in Delphos.

They compiled 15 hits and run-ruled host Jefferson 14-3 in six innings in Northwest Conference baseball action on a pleasant Thursday afternoon.

“They were hitting bullets all over the field. They are a nice hitting team,” Jefferson head man Doug Geary noted. “We weren’t booting the ball all over the place, that’s for sure. Give them credit for their offense.”

Trey Roney (4-1) went the 6-inning complete game for the victors (14-2, 4-0 NWC), tossing 92 pitches (69 for strikes).

“Trey isn’t a hard thrower but he is a cerebral player; he knows how to pitch,” Grove mentor Cory King said. “He changes speeds very well and mixes his pitches up well, moving them around the plate. He made a couple of mistakes — one a ball chest-high to (Zavier) Buzard — but not many.”

The Bulldogs got rolling right off the bat against Jefferson starter Zach Ricker (3-2) with two runs in the top of the first on an error and three hits, including a run-producing (Blake Huffman, 2-for-5) knock to center by Matt Jay (3-for-4, 2 runs batted in), and a sacrifice fly by Roney (3-for-4, 4 RBIs), bringing in Brandon Benroth (2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs).

Delphos (13-7, 2-4 NWC) retaliated for one in the home half on an error and two hits, including a run-coring single to center by Zach Kimmett (plating Ross Thompson), for a 2-1 deficit.

The visitors tacked on two more in the second on a walk to Josh Verhoff (3 walks, 3 runs), a run-scoring double by Trent Vorst and an RBI single by Mason Smith (3-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs) for a 4-1 lead.

Grove made it 5-1 in the third, chasing Ricker for Jordan Herron, compiling two hits and two walks, including a bases-loaded one to Verhoff, plating Roney.

Grove made it 6-1 in the fourth on a 1-out double by Jay and an RBI line single by Roney.

The Wildcats rallied with a pair in their half of the frame with two hits, the second a 2-run bomb over the 345-foot mark in left field by Zavier Buzard that also scored Herron, to get within 6-3. It became 8-3 in the Bulldog half of the fifth on a free pass and three singles, the latter two from Benroth (scoring Verhoff) and Jay (Smith).

Jefferson had a pair of hits in the fifth but Herron got picked off first base by Jay to end the threat.

The visitors added their final six tallies in the sixth, chasing Herron (for Thompson) and sending 11 batters to the dish. An error was part of it, as was a walk, a hit batter and four hits. The big blows were a 2-run rip up the gut by Smith (pinch-runner Logan Diller and Verhoff), along with a 2-run liner by Roney (Smith and Benroth), to make it 14-3.

When Roney retired the side in the Delphos sixth, the game was over. Both coaches figured that the count was key for both sides.

“Zach was behind in the count from the start and now it becomes a hitter’s count. You can’t fall behind good-hitting teams,” Geary added. “We hit the ball well, too; we just couldn’t keep up with them. We had a good number of hits and even had some bad luck because a few were hit hard but right at them.”

King agreed.

“Trey was throwing a lot of first-pitch strikes and now, they have to hit his pitch; he can even make them chase more and they hit a lot of fly balls,” King added. “We showed a lot of discipline at the plate and we were rewarded. We needed it, too; we’ve been struggling putting up runs and we broke out today.”

Both teams are on the road for NWC action today: Jefferson at Bluffton and Columbus Grove at Crestview, both makeup games.

COLUMBUS GROVE (14)

ab-r-h-rbi

Blake Huffman cf 5-1-2-0, Brandon Benroth ss 5-2-2-2, Matt Jay c 4-1-3-2, Trey Roney p 4-1-3-4, Brady Shafer rf 2-1-0-0, Kody Griffith 1b 5-0-2-0, Logan Diller pr 0-1-0-0, Josh Verhoff 2b 0-3-0-1, Trent Vorst 3b 3-2-1-1, Mason Smith lf 4-2-3-3. Totals 32-14-15-13.

JEFFERSON (3)

ab-r-h-rbi

Ross Thompson ss/p 4-1-1-0, Zach Ricker p/2b/1b 3-0-0-0, Austin Jettinghoff c/2b/ss 3-0-2-0, Zach Kimmett 1b/c 3-0-1-1, Drew Kortokrax rf 3-0-1-0, Jordan Herron 3b/p 3-1-2-0, Zavier Buzard cf 3-1-1-2, Seth Wollenhaupt lf 2-0-0-0, Tyler Wrasman 2b/3b 2-0-0-0, Tyler Rice ph 1-0-0-0. Totals 27-3-8-3.

Score by Innings:

Col. Grove 2 2 1 1 2 6 - 14

Jefferson 1 0 0 2 0 0 - 3

E: Benroth, Griffith, Ricker, Wollenhaupt, Wrasman; LOB: Columbus Grove 10, Jefferson 6; 2B: Jay, Vorst; HR: Buzard; SB: Roney, Shafer, Griffith, Thompson; DI: Benroth; POB: Herron (by Jay); Sac: Vorst; SF: Roney.

IP H R ER BB SO

COLUMBUS GROVE

Roney (W, 4-1) 6.0 8 3 2 1 6

JEFFERSON

Ricker (L, 3-2) 2.0 6 5 4 2 0

Herron 3.0 7 7 7 3 2

Thompson 1.0 3 2 0 1 2

Ricker pitched to 2 batters in 3rd

Herron pitched to 4 batters in 6th

WP: Thompson; HBP: Verhoff (by Herron).

By JIM COX

DHI Correspondent

CONVOY - Crestview right-hander Venice Roberts stifled Van Wert for six innings, then barely held the fort in the seventh, as the Knights escaped with a 5-2 non-league baseball win Wednesday afternoon at the Crestview Athletic Complex.

Crestview is now 9-3, Van Wert 12-6.

The game started off promising for the Cougars. With one out in the top of the first, shortstop Nathan Stoller swung at a third strike in the dirt and reached when the ball bounced by the catcher. Leftfielder Brant Henry lined a single down the left-field line and rightfielder Tyler Williams bounced a base hit through the third/short hole to fill the sacks. Pitcher Andrew Todd’s fly to shallow left center, however, was snagged by shortstop Bryce Richardson, runners holding, and catcher Ryan Stoller grounded into an inning-ending force-out, Richardson unassisted.

Van Wert wouldn’t threaten again until the seventh inning.

Meanwhile, Todd, a lefty, cruised through the first three innings, throwing 27 strikes out of 31 pitches, but ran into big trouble in the bottom of the fourth. First baseman Jake Harmon led off by smacking a line single to right. Centerfielder Cam Etzler laid down a perfect bunt and beat it out. Roberts’ bouncer was booted, scoring Harmon and putting runners at second and third. Rightfielder Nick Thomas blooped an opposite-field single to right, plating Etzler. Catcher Nate Owens then lined a base hit up the middle, bringing home Roberts. Second baseman Brock Rolsten bunted the runners over to second and third. Third baseman Isaiah Simerman’s deep sacrifice fly to center drove in Thomas and leftfielder Damian Helm’s single to left plated Owens — 5-0, Knights, after four.