Patriots win opener

FOUNTAIN CITY — Ty Huntsman showed why he is the Patriots’ No. 1 pitcher.
The Jay County High School senior held the host Northeastern Knights without a run to lead the Patriot baseball team to a 4-1 victory Saturday in its season opener.
Huntsman allowed just one hit in the win, and the lone run against him was unearned. He struck out eight batters while walking just two as he went the distance.
The Patriots scored single runs in the first and second innings and never trailed. They added two runs in the seventh to put the game away.
Sophomore Jason Houston had a pair of hits, including a double, to lead the offense, and senior Chance Fuller scored twice and stole a base. Andre Duke, a senior, finished with a single, an RBI and a stolen base, and Keenan James added a double.
The JCHS junior varsity team had a four-run lead early and hung on for an 11-10 victory over the Knights. Chaz Carroll earned the win, and Nick Clemens led the offense by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs.

Tribe drops pair
CONVOY, Ohio — The Fort Recovery baseball team fell below .500 Saturday, dropping a doubleheader to the host Crestview Knights 13-5 and 12-2 in five innings.
A big inning broke open the first game after the Indians scored twice in the first inning to take the lead. Crestview put up eight runs in the third inning and never trailed again.
The Knights took the early lead in game two and then scored seven runs in the fourth inning en route to the 10-run win.
Ryan Gaerke suffered the game-one loss, giving up eight runs — three earned — on five hits in 2 2/3 innings. Kent Retz gave up three runs — two earned — on two hits in 2 2/3 innings to take the defeat in game two.
Jacob Muhlenkamp had two doubles and two RBIs for Fort Recovery (2-4) in the opener, and Jared Kahlig finished with a hit, a run and an RBI in the second game.

First at nationals
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Pennville Elementary School student helped her cheerleading squad earn a national championship this weekend.
Abigail Benter, 8, competed for the Celina Lakes All-Stars Saturday and Sunday at the American Cheer Power Midwest Nationals at Columbus Convention Center. The squad took first place in the Junior Level 3 Co-ed division.
Benter is a third grader at Pennville.[[In-content Ad]]