BERNE — The Patriots’ conference fate will be decided in three days.

The first went well.

Jay County High School’s girls tennis team won the first match of its Allen County Athletic Conference sprint Wednesday, defeating the host South Adams Starfires 4-1.

Weather has forced the Patriots’ ACAC tennis schedule to be smushed together. Their original conference opener against Bluffton was called off because of wind and the match against South Adams was originally set for Monday. Now, they will follow up Wednesday’s win with a visit to Adams Central tonight and a home match Friday against Bluffton.

The No. 1 doubles team of Holly Hemmelgarn and Madison Dirksen led Jay County, which pushed its record to 5-1 with its fourth straight win. They cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 victory.

Grace Brewster gave the Patriots a sweep of the No. 1 spots with her 6-2, 6-1 win.

Each of the other victories for JCHS came in three-set rallies. Brenna Haines kept her unbeaten season intact with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles while twins Kaylee and Melana Zimmerman bounced back from a first-set defeat for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 triumph.

Lilly Hedges suffered a 6-1, 6-0 loss at No. 2 singles.



JH golfers fall

The Jay County junior high golf team suffered a 205-216 loss Wednesday to Selma at Cardinal Hills Golf Course.

Cody DeHoff posted the best score for the Patriots in the nine-hole match with a 48. He earned the team’s lone par on the sixth hole.

Jayden Comer followed with a 54, while Jacob Monroe and Dawson Goldsworthy shot matching 57s.

Sylas Wenk’s 60 did not factor in the team score.



All-stars split

Portland’s 12-and-younger all-star baseball team split games Wednesday with Winchester, losing the opening 6-3 before taking the second game 7-5.

Jace Vance’s two singles and an RBI led Portland in its win. Cooper Reynolds and Brayden O’Brian each drove in a run. Grant Fennig struck out four in two innings as he earned the win in relief.

Varen Ridgway and Vance each had two singles and an RBI in game one.