SA bounces back, tops Jay

BERNE — A day after losing their first conference match, the Starfires got in the win column.

The South Adams High School girls tennis team evened its Allen County Athletic Conference record Friday with a 4-1 victory over the Jay County Patriots.

At No. 1 singles, Starfire senior Haley Gerber made easy work of JCHS senior Katy Hamilton, who was making her debut as the Patriots’ top singles player. Gerber didn’t surrender a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win.

Julia Grabau, a SAHS senior, moved to 8-0 on the year by beating Dawn Minnick 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Hannah Dull knocked off Mackynzie Fairchild 6-1, 6-0 to give the Starfires a sweep of the singles matches.

The No. 2 doubles tandem of Katrina Fosnaugh and Cassie Yoder defeated Kaitlyn Ruiz and Janae Kirby 6-1, 6-0.

Jay County’s only victory came at No. 1 singles. Shelby McClain and Audrey Dirksen nabbed the opening set 7-6 (7-2) before dropping the second to Breanna Potts and Jade Farlow 6-4. The Patriot duo won the third set 6-4 to secure the match.



Stars blast Generals

BERNE — Grant Besser hit the first two home runs of his career and the South Adams baseball team blasted five round-trippers Friday in a 12-1 victory over the Wayne Generals in five innings at Harry F. Anderson Field.

Besser’s first career homer, a solo shot, came in the bottom of the fourth inning as he went back-to-back with Keagan Yoder’s three-run long ball. Besser gave the Starfires (12-1) an 8-1 advantage. 

One inning later, Besser took an 0-1 pitch deep for another solo shot, and two batters later Joe Stuber hit the ball over the fence to complete the run-rule victory.

Collin Shaffer’s solo home run in the bottom of the first made it 2-1 South Adams.

Nic Stuber, brother Joe, Besser, Shaffer and Yoder all had two hits. Joe Stuber and Shaffer — who got the win pitching — also totaled three RBIs each.

Shaffer gave up one earned run on four hits in four innings. He struck out one and walked one.



SA loses again

BERNE — The South Adams softball team lost for the second time in as many games on Friday, falling 11-6 in eight innings to the Bellmont Squaws.

After winning the first 10 games to start the season, the Starfires dip to 10-2 on the year.

South Adams, which is ranked sixth in Class 2A, tied the score in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extras, during which the Class 3A No. 3 Squaws took a commanding lead by plating five runs thanks to a grand slam from Tori Miller, her second homer of the game.

The Starfires couldn’t recover.

Isabella Ramirez went deep for the third time this season, as she was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Emilie Hammell also tallied her first career home run. Lexi Dellinger, Anna Nussbaum and Tori Raugh all had singles.



Haines gets season best

WINCHESTER — Collin Haines shot his best round of the season Thursday as the Jay County boys golf team finished fourth during a meet at Winchester Golf Club.

Blackford scored 175 to finish first, as Monroe Central (184) and host Winchester (203) were second and third respectively. Jay County totaled 207.

Haines, a senior, shot a 4-over-par 39 for his lowest score of the year. Freshman Griffin Man turned in a 52 to tie his career-best, and Devin Harris shot 56 for third on the team. Auston Rittenhouse shot 60 to complete the Patriots’ team total.

Joey Hall also competed. He shot a 65 but did not factor into the team score.