Jay Co. defeats Starfish

BERNE — With its most experienced swimmers leading the charge Tuesday, the Jay County Summer Swim Team knocked off the host South Adams Starfish 629-582.
Three swimmers combined to sweep the 15-and-older boys events, with Neal Fennig winning the long freestyle, backstroke and individual medley.
Wiley Young took the butterfly and short freestyle, and Alex Sutton finished first in the breaststroke.
In the 15-and-older girls events, Eme Miller earned victories in the long freestyle, backstroke and short freestyle. Mary Hudson joined her in the sweep by taking the butterfly, individual medley and breaststroke.
Lilly Clemmons and Eliza Bader combined for a third sweep in the 8-and-younger girls events. Clemmons’ wins came in the long freestyle, backstroke and short freestyle while Bader turned in top times in the butterfly, individual medley and breaststroke.
Anne Vormohr won the 13-14-year-old girls long freestyle, backstroke and individual medley, and Alex Bader added victories in the 11-12-year-old girls butterfly, individual medley and breaststroke.
Adding two wins apiece were Tayler Smeltzer, Sydney Mathias, Ian Reynolds and Sophie Bader.

Rockets rout VW
VAN WERT, Ohio — The Portland Rockets racked up a couple of big innings to pull away late for a 15-3 victory Tuesday over the Van Wert Twisters.
Dalton Tinsely hit his first home run of the season for first-place Portland (15-7, 10-4 Heartland League) as he, Brady Roundtree, Ben Smith, Nate Clem and Chris Tillery each recorded a pair of hits. Andre Duke, a Jay County High School senior, also got his first hit as a Rocket with a two-run double to left-center field.
Thomas McCowan (Jay County) also had a hit in the victory.
Brad Benbow struck out six batters in four shutout innings, allowing just one hit. Eathan Daggett tossed scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth to close out the victory.
The Rockets return home tonight to take on the Ohio Warhawks, who have just one loss on the season.

Lothridge keys FMB
Brianna Lothridge led the way Tuesday as First Merchants Bank fought off  Portland Optimist 10-9 in the opening round of the Portland Junior League Rookie softball tournament. Persimmon Ridge defeated Loy Real Estate and Auction 19-9.
Lothridge racked up four hits, three runs and two RBIs for First Merchants, which had a 10-6 lead through four innings and then held on for the victory. Ashley Byer added two hits and three RBIs.
Thanks in part to an inside-the-park grand slam, Justice Day drove in eight runs in the victory by Persimmon Ridge.[[In-content Ad]]