Besser homers twice in SA rout

BERNE — Grant Besser doubled his team’s home run total.

Collin Shaffer knocked one out of the park, too.

Besser hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and Shaffer went deep as well in leading the South Adams High School baseball team to a 19-11 thrashing of visiting Allen County Athletic Conference rival Southern Wells Raiders.

The Class 2A No. 5 Starfires (7-2, 1-0 ACAC) and Raiders were tied at one apiece before Besser and the Starfires broke the game wide open. Besser hit his grand slam as part of a six-run second inning, and after leading 9-7 after four innings South Adams added seven more runs in the fifth. Besser, who finished with six RBIs, and Shaffer went deep in the sixth inning.

Nick Miller collected three hits and two RBIs, while Alex Gorney and Nic Stuber both had two hits. Conner Young earned his first career victory. He allowed five runs — four earned — on five hits. He struck out five and walked one. 

Stars get first win

WABASH — The South Adams girls tennis team cruised to its first win of the season on Monday with a 5-0 victory against Southwood.

Hannah Dull won her No. 1 singles match against Allison Steele 6-0, 6-2, and Josie Grabau didn’t lose a game in beating Baylea Swan at No. 2 singles. At No. 3 singles, Alexa Kinsey got a 6-0, 6-1 win over Makayla Murphy.

Kirsten Herman and Gabi Bailey earned a 6-0, 6-2 victory against Courtney Andrick and MaKenna Norman in their No. 1 doubles match. The No. 2 doubles tandem of Michelle Donis and Anna Dee needed three sets to dispose of Ariel Benner and Madison Snyder, 3-6, 6-2 (10-7).

South Adams’ junior varsity team lost, 4-0.

Late runs sinks Tribe

LIMA, Ohio — A pair of late runs sank the Fort Recovery baseball team in its 3-1 loss to host Shawnee Indians on Monday.

Shawnee (9-1) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning before Ian Homan knocked in Ryne Post to tie the score a half inning later. But Shawnee plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth and Fort Recovery (8-4) didn’t recover.

Kody Shinabery had the lone hit, a single, for FRHS. Post walked twice, as Joe Homan and Cobe Wendel also drew free passes.

Owen Schoen was charged with the loss. He allowed two runs — one earned — on two hits in one inning of relief. Shinabery started, scattered three hits over 4 2/3 innings, surrendered one earned run and walked one.

Fort loses in extras

FORT RECOVERY — Three runs in the top of the eighth inning was too much to overcome Monday as the Fort Recovery softball team lost to the Wapakoneta Redskins, 5-2.

After falling behind 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Fort Recovery (7-8) rallied with a run in each of the fifth and sixth frames to tie the score.

A pair of errors and a two-run double crippled the Indians in the extra inning.

Hannah Knapke doubled, singled and drove in a run for Fort Recovery. Lydia Wenning collected two singles, and Kim Hart knocked in an RBI. Jackie Homan also had a hit.

Homan suffered the loss, allowing five runs — two earned — on seven hits in eight innings. She struck out eight and walked one.

Boys, girls second

FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery Middle School’s boys and girls track teams both finished second on Monday in a three-team meet.

Fort Loramie’s boys won with 85 points, and Fort Recovery scored 35 points to edge Parkway by two points.

A whopping 102 points gave Fort Loramie’s girls the win, and Fort Recovery was the runner-up with 26 points, one ahead of Parkway.

Ellie Will grabbed first place in the 1,600-meter run for the FRMS girls. The 4x400 relay team of Abby Knapke, Natalie Brunswick, Megan Diller and Alexis Wendel also got a win.

Ross Pearson earned the lone FRMS boys win. He beat the other competitors in the 200 dash.