South Adams tennis advances

BLUFFTON — The Starfires are moving on.

South Adams High School’s girls tennis team defeated the host Bluffton Tigers 4-1 Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the IHSAA sectional tournament.

The Starfires (12-4), who beat Bluffton during the regular season by the same margin, advance to the sectional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. tonight against Norwell.

Huntington North swept Bellmont 5-0, and meets two-time defending sectional champion Adams Central in the other semifinal.

The championship is slated for Friday.

At No. 2 singles, Julia Grabau won her match 7-5, 6-1 to remain undefeated at 16-0. Hannah Dull (14-2) won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.

The No. 1 doubles team of Breanna Potts and Jade Farlow (12-0) fought to win 6-0, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, while Katrina Fosnaugh and Cassie Yoder won 6-2, 6-2 (11-5) at No. 2 doubles.



Late surge sinks Stars

BERNE — In a battle of state-ranked teams Wednesday, South Adams softball gave up five runs in the sixth inning in an 8-4 loss to the Wapahani Raiders.

South Adams (16-7), which finished 11th in the most recent Class 2A coaches poll, scored three times in the bottom of the second inning and led 4-1 after three. But the fourth-ranked Raiders got within one in the fifth inning before taking the lead for good an inning later.

Jenna Myers had two hits and scored a run for South Adams, and Tori Raugh singled and drove in a pair of runs.

Lexi Dellinger, Isabella Ramirez and Emilie Hammell also collected singles. Dellinger scored twice.

Anna Nussbaum suffered the loss, giving up eight runs — seven earned — on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings. She struck out five and walked one.



Braves blast SA

DECATUR — The South Adams junior varsity baseball team gave up a dozen runs in the second inning and only managed one hit in a 15-1 loss in five innings to the Bellmont Braves on Wednesday.

Three walks and 10 hits allowed the Braves to stake its early advantage.

South Adams freshman James Arnold singled to start the top of the fourth inning to break up the Braves’ bid for a no-hitter. The Starfires (12-7) were behind 15-0 before scoring a run on a three-base error and a wild pitch.

Arnold allowed eight earned runs while recording just four outs. He walked three, gave up four hits and struck out one.



Golfers end with win

MUNCIE — Jay County’s middle school golf team ended its season with a 190-203 win over Muncie Central on Wednesday at Crestview Golf Club.

Kyle Sanders earned match medalist honors with a 42. Matthew Hall and Isaac Braun both fired 49, while Aidan Garringer completed the team score with a round of 50.

The squad finished its short season with a 2-2 record.



Optimist wins

Portland Optimist squeaked by Lions Club 8-7 Wednesday in Portland Junior League’s Willie Mays division.

Landon Garringer led Optimist by going 3-for-3 with a triple, two singles and two runs scored. Griffin Byrum hit an inside-the-park home run, drove in two runs and scored twice, while Dominick Bright finished 2-for-3. AJ Myers, Vasin Ridgway and Jayden Harrell all added singles.

Wes Wenning and Isaac Scott were both 2-for-4 in the losing effort for Lions. Austin Jellison, Aryon Montes and Eli Stockton all had hits.



Homestead tops TJ

Homestead Quality Bedding collected 26 hits Wednesday in a 12-6 win over TJ Concrete Construction in Rookie softball action of Portland Junior League.

Harlow Hough, Kylie Shannon and Hailee Randall had a double and two singles for Homestead, which also got three singles each from Piper Myers, Khloe Myers and Ayla Jackson. Layla Armstrong and Kali Newell had two hits apiece.

Dixie Bellis led TJ with a double and two singles, as Erin Aker and Kayleigh Stevenson both hit three singles. Danica Chowning contributed two hits.