Starfires rally to keep streaks going

WOODBURN — The Starfires were on the brink of defeat.

Their 13-game winning streak, undefeated conference record and time as the top team in the state were all on the line.

A six-run rally in the sixth preserved all three.

South Adams High School’s baseball team scored six times in the top of the sixth inning Tuesday for a 9-7 win over the Woodlan Warriors.

The Starfires (18-1, 5-0 Allen County Athletic Conference), who are the top-ranked team in Class 2A, trailed 7-3 before Grant Besser began the rally with a two-run double. Joe Stuber hit an RBI single, and Collin Shaffer brought in a run on a sacrifice bunt to tie the game. Isaiah Baumgartner gave South Adams an 8-7 lead, and Mark Clary doubled in the final run of the game.

Besser had two doubles, two RBIs and a pair of walks, and pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief to get the victory. Stuber collected three hits, as James Arnold and Clary also had two hits.

Stars clinch title

WOODBURN — South Adams’ softball team clinched its third consecutive Allen County Athletic Conference championship Tuesday with a 1-0 win over the host Woodlan Warriors.

South Adams (15-4, 5-0 ACAC), which is ranked fourth in Class 2A, scored the only run it needed in the top of the seventh inning. Jade Baker reached on a one-out error and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Alivia Bergman.

Kayla LeFever doubled to center to score Baker as the game’s only run.

Lexi Dellinger, Anna Nussbaum and Tori Raugh each had hits for the Starfires.

Nussbaum scattered three hits over seven innings, walked one and struck out 10 to get the win.



Four earn honor

Four Fort Recovery softball players were honored by the Midwest Athletic Conference as it released its all-conference teams Tuesday.

Junior shortstop Hannah Knapke and sophomore pitcher Olivia Homan were named to the All-MAC second team. Knapke leads the Indians (8-11) with a .438 batting average, and shares the team lead of 13 RBIs. Homan boasts a .309 batting average, and has handled almost all of the Tribe’s pitching duties.

Junior Aleigha Jenkins and freshman Brenna Homan were given honorable mention.



Golfers fall to Bears

The Jay County middle school golf team lost to Monroe Central on Tuesday, 147-166, in six holes at Portland Golf Club.

Ryleigh Oswalt led Jay County with a 39, including a birdie on the eighth hole. Kyle Sanders was second with 41, and Tyler Manor was one stroke behind. Seth Wilson shot 44 to complete the team score.



Graphic beats Lodge

In Major softball action of Portland Junior League, Graphic Printing earned a 17-7 victory against Masonic Lodge on Tuesday.

Haleigh Clayton had four hits and two RBIs, while Laci McGinnis contributed two hits and three RBIs. Brianna Zorn, Lizzy Dollar and Jacqueline Smith all tallied a pair of hits and an RBI. 

Emma Swingley led Lodge with a double, two singles and three RBIs. Lauren Brewster collected a hit and two RBIs, had a single and an RBI. Kristen Wendel and Brenna Homan both had two hits.



TJ tops Display Craft

TJ Concrete Construction eked out a 6-4 win over Display Craft on Tuesday in a PJL Rookie softball tilt.

Opel Garrett had two triples and scored twice for TJ, which also got three singles and a run each from Erin Aker and Kayleigh Stevenson. Shylyn Blowers and Harper Kunkle both contributed two singles.

Presleigh Moore led Display Craft with three singles and two runs, while Isabella Osborne contributed two singles and one run.

 Bailey Rowles chipped in a single and a run. 



Therapeutics win

Jay County Therapeutics picked up a 10-5 win over Fisher Packing on Tuesday in Portland Junior League’s Minor softball action.

Dakota Chowning led Jay County Therapeutics with a triple, a double and four RBIs. LJ Wagner contributed two singles and an RBI, while Courtney Harris drove in two RBIs.

Avery Wentz, Cassie Petro, Savannah Lugar, Callie Yates and Jasmine Esparza all had singles.