Kunkler, Beiswanger bolster Patriot girls track

BLUFFTON — The Patriot girls have gotten off to a hot start this season, and it is translating well into conference matches.

Strong performances from Mya Kunkler and Ariel Beiswanger led the Jay County High School girls track team to a perfect start in the Allen County Athletic Conference as it beat Bluffton 74-58 on Monday. The boys team is on the other side of that pendulum as a 102-30 beatdown to the Tigers keeps JCHS searching for an ACAC victory.

Kunkler and Beiswanger provided a pair of victories for the girls team (5-1, 3-0 ACAC).

Kunkler excelled in the field events, taking the high jump with a height of 4 feet, 8 inches, and the pole vault by clearing 7 feet, 6 inches.

Beiswanger’s wins came in a pair of sprints as she topped the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.31 seconds (Jay County swept the top four spots) and the 400 dash in 1 minute, 3.81 seconds.

Jenna Dues added another win in the sprints, claiming the 100 dash in 13.19.

Other girls victories came from:

•Brooklynn Byrum in the 800 run (2:32.39)

•Peyton Carpenter in the long jump (15 feet, 5 inches)

•Jordyn Hutzler in the discus (95 feet, 7 ½ inches)

•The 4x100 relay team (52.20)

The boys (1-5, 0-3 ACAC) only topped three events on the day. Adam Alig ran a 16 seconds flat in the 110 hurdles to place first, while Dash Thacker finished the 3,200 run in 10:22.45. The boys 4x100 relay also came out on top with a 44.95.

Fell to Frankton

FRANKTON — Jay County’s girls tennis team fell to the Frankton Eagles 3-2 on Tuesday.

Brenna Bailey stayed perfect on the season at 5-0 by claiming the No. 1 singles match 6-1, 6-1 over Lainey Hamaker.

Meredith Dirsken provided the only other point for Jay County (2-3). She secured the No. 2 singles position with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Sloane Harrison.

Gretchen Link and Sophie Sprunger claimed two games in the first set of the No. 1 doubles match, but fell to Laela Dietzer and Campbell Quire 6-2, 6-0.

In their first varsity match, the No. 2 doubles pair of Lydia Johnson and Chloe Muhlenkamp lost to Grace Harrison and Addie Moore 6-1, 6-1.

Lilly Johnson only managed to win one game in the No. 3 doubles match as she was defeated 6-1, 6-0 by Lilly Hall.

Bad start

OSSIAN — The first inning snowballed out of control of the Jay County baseball team on Tuesday as they gave up 10 runs en route to a 14-4 loss to the Norwell Knights on Tuesday.

Two of the first three batters reached base on a pair of errors by right fielder Cam Fraley. Between the errors, Kade Sommers gave up a walk, giving the Knights (5-3) an early opportunity with the bases loaded.

The first runner crossed on a sacrifice fly, but the game got out of control quickly as Sommers surrendered four more walks and five hits to allow 10 unearned runs to score.

The Patriots (2-5) started to turn things around in the top of the third inning when they scored four runs on a Wyatt Foster single and a Drew Schemenaur three-run home run.

But just as Jay County found some life, Norwell punched back for four of their own in the bottom half of the third inning, bringing the Knights back up to the needed number for the mercy rule after five innings.

Dame leads

RICHMOND — The Jay County Junior High School golf team fell to Richmond Intermediate Schools 202-214 on Tuesday at Elks Country Club.

Jacen Dame led the way for the Patriots (0-1) by shooting a 51.

Karson Hines didn’t fall too far behind with a 53 and Murphy Link provided the third score with a 54.

Both Josh Brown and Alexa Ridenour shot 61s to round out the team score. Crystal Schwartzentruber’s 68 did not affect the final result.