All Bluffton Icon News

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Rodney Lee Stratton, age 79, was called (went to be with his Lord) home at 7:09 a.m., Saturday, August 28, 2021 at the Bridge Hospice Care Center in Findlay, Ohio. Rodney was born September 16, 1941 in Bluffton, Ohio to the late Rolland and Marie (Weinhold) Stratton. On February 24, 1962 he married Marlyn Jane (Steinman) Stratton who survives in Bluffton. 

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By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton boys soccer team whipped Spencerville 6-0 to begin defense of their Northwest Conference crown in the league opener Monday night.

The Pirates improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in NWC play with the win. The Bearcats dropped to 1-1 and 0-1 in NWC action after the defeat.

Bluffton's Nolan Hoffman started the scoring early with a pair of goals at the two and four-minute marks.

Pirate Jude Spallinger tallied a goal at 13:23 to extend the lead to 3-0, which is how it stayed into halftime.

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By Cort Reynolds

The host Bluffton girls soccer team raced to a 7-0 first half lead and blanked Spencerville 8-0 in the Northwest Conference opener Monday evening.

The defending NWC champion Lady Pirate kickers improved to 2-1 and 1-0 in league action with the win. The Lady Bearcats open 0-1 overall and 0-1 in league play after the loss.

Bluffton's Riley Eachus netted the first goal of the game in the 10th minute on an assist from Olivia Matthews.

Sami Scoles scored in the 11th and 17th minutes on feeds from Eachus and Marley Kindle.

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Raelene Joyce Wilch, 88, passed away August 28, 2021 at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton.  Raelene was born October 6, 1932 in Lima to the late Stanley "Ray" and Helen (Gable) Campbell.  She married Roderick Balmer who preceded her in death on October 3, 1962.  Raelene later married Ray Wilch and he preceded her in death on October 20, 2017.

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By Cort Reynolds

The host Bluffton volleyball team dropped a hard-fought, four-set match to non-league rival Elida Monday night.

The Pirate girls fell to 2-1 after the 25-21, 19-25, 25-8, 25-23 defeat. Elida improved to 4-2 with the road win.

Senior middle hitter Kylie Stackhouse led the Pirates with 16 kills and three blocks.

Bluffton senior setter Skyler Scoles doled out 20 assists.

Elida's Addisyn Freeman and Kylie Vorhees each compiled 11 kills and two blocks.

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By Cort Reynolds

The host Bluffton girls soccer team staved off Bath for a 2-1 non-league victory Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Pirate kickers evened their record at 1-1 with the first win of the season. Bath fell to 0-3 with the defeat.

Bluffton's Sami Scoles scored the first goal of the game in the 26th minute on an assist from Reagan Mittendorf.

The game stayed 1-0 into halftime, and remained that way for the first 33 minutes of the second half.

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