Weather halts play

For most of the day Monday, hopes were high.

The sun was shining, temperatures were rising and it appeared as if the sports season was finally going to get into full swing.

Mother Nature had other ideas.

A late storm canceled or postponed a host of athletic contests Monday. Some were nearly finished, others barely got started.

After its home opener on Friday was canceled because of weather, the Jay County High School baseball team (0-1) was set to play the Coldwater Cavaliers at Don E. Selvey Field at JCHS.

Coldwater (4-1) threatened early with runners at the corners in the top of the first inning. Jay County starting pitcher Ryan Schlechty induced a ground ball back to the mound. The sophomore tossed it over to first baseman Payton Heniser, who rifled a throw to catcher Jacob Geesaman for an inning-ending double play.

In the home half of the frame, leadoff hitter Cole Stigleman fell behind Coldwater pitcher Dylan Brosher 0-2 before fouling off three straight pitches. Stigleman absorbed Brosher’s sixth offering in the side for a hit by pitch before lightning in the area postponed the game.

After a delay of about 20 minutes, the game was called off.

As of this morning, the Jay County’s athletics department is unsure as to whether or not it will be rescheduled.

A few hundred yards away, the Jay County softball team was set to play former sectional rival Huntington North. The game was moments from getting underway before it was canceled.

In Lima, Ohio, the Fort Recovery baseball team was tied with the Bath Wildcats 5-5 in the fifth inning before the game was postponed. Because of the distance between the two schools, FRHS athletics director Kurt Rammel said this morning he is unsure if the game will be resumed.

Reese Rogers notched two hits and two RBIs for the Indians (5-1). Nick Thwaits, Cade Wendel and Ethan Schoen each had hits and drove in runs.

Fort Recovery’s softball team, which swept the Van Wert Cougars in a doubleheader Saturday, was looking to match its win total from all of last season as it met the Memorial Roughriders in St. Marys, Ohio.

The Roughriders scored a run in each of the first three innings, but the Indians (2-5) clawed back with runs in the third and fourth frames to trail 3-2. Devin Post was two pitches into the top of the fifth inning before the game got cancelled. Rammel said both teams are interested in finishing the game at a later date.

Post was leading the Indians with two hits. Rachel Thien had a double and an RBI, and Hannah Knapke also had a hit and and RBI.

In Berne, the South Adams softball team was three pitches into its Allen County Athletic Conference opener against Southern Wells before inclement weather found its way to the area. A make-up date will be announced.

Fort Recovery’s junior varsity baseball team was trailing the Russia Raiders 6-4 in the top of the fourth inning as its game was also postponed.

Ian and Joe Homan both had two hits for the Indians. The latter of whom hit a double, as did Josh Muhlenkamp. Garrett Faller and Cole Grisez each had hits.