First National fights off late Lions' rally (06/05/03)

Portland Lions made every effort to rally Wednesday, but Colton Lombardo finally slammed the door.

Lombardo, pitching in relief for First National Bank, gave up a run, but struck out the side in the sixth inning as his team won 8-6. First National had led 7-0 before nearly squandering the entire lead in the tight victory.

Lombardo recorded each of his six outs in two innings of work by way of the strike out. He gave up one run in the sixth inning, but preserved the win for teammate Kyle Simmons.

He also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and a triple. He scored a pair of runs.

Austin Emerick also had two hits and two runs for First National.

Lions nearly pulled off the comeback powered by brother and sister combo Billy and Lindsay Wellman. The pair accounted for all four of the team’s hits and all five of its RBIs.

Billy had two hits, including a triple, two runs and three RBIs. Lindsay also had two hits, including a double, and a pair of RBIs.

Eric Homan also scored twice.

Pearce big again

For the second time in three games, Tommy Pearce paced the Richmond Rooster’s offense. He led the way Wednesday night in Richmond’s 5-4, 11-inning victory over the Chillicothe Paints.

Pearce, who spent the last two summers with the Portland Rockets, opened the evening with a two-out RBI single in the first inning. He also hit a solo home run to center field in the third, finishing the night 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

The designated hitter lifted his season average to .316 with the effort.

Urban even at 3-3

Jeff Urban, who spent several seasons with the Portland Rockets in the mid-1990s, is currently with the Fresno Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are a Triple-A Pacific Coast League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

Urban has made eight starts for Fresno this season, compiling a 3-3 record and a 4.34 ERA. He has struck out 32 batters and walked 16 in 472/3 innings of work.

The left-hander from Alexandria did well in his most recent game, a Grizzlies’ victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes. In five innings he allowed two runs on six hits while striking out four.

Football tryouts

Semi-pro football has arrived in Jay and Mercer counties.

The newly formed Jay-Mercer Cougars will play in the CrossRoads Football League, which includes teams from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The team will play game on Saturday afternoons beginning July 26, with home games at Fort Recovery High School.

Tryouts for the team will be Saturday at Ambassador Park in Fort Recovery at 11 a.m. Anyone ages 18-or-older who is interested in playing is invited to attend.

For more information call Zeb Sutton at (260) 726-4466 or Jose Faller at (419) 375-4628.

Sports banquet

The Jay County High School spring sports banquet will be Thursday, June 12 at 6 p.m. in the JCHS commons.

Baseball and softball players are asked to bring casseroles and side dishes, track athletes are asked to bring desserts, and tennis players and golfers should bring salads. For more information, call (260) 726-9806.

Basketball camp

The Jay County High School boys basketball camps will be held June 9-13 at JCHS.

There will be three separate sessions, one for third and fourth grades (10 to 11 a.m.), one for fifth and sixth graders (11 a.m. to noon) and one for seventh and eighth graders (noon to 1 p.m.). The camps will be conducted by Jay County coach Craig Teagle and his staff and players.

The cost of each camp is $25, which includes a T-shirt. Registration forms are available at any of the schools in Jay County.

For more information, call JCHS at (260) 726-9306.[[In-content Ad]]