Sam Fruchey, BHS baseball coach, named NWC coach of the year
In voting by Northwest Conference baseball coaches for the 2014 baseball season. senior Damian Helm, a pitcher/first baseman from Crestview was named Player of the Year. This follows Helm's selection as player of the year in basketball and receiving co-player of the year honors last year in baseball. Helm was a near unanimous selection receiving 159 out of a possible 160 points in the balloting.
Bluffton coach Sam Fruchey tallied 22 points to be named Coach of the Year at the all-conference selection meeting Monday evening at Delphos Jefferson. Fruchey led the Pirates to a 6-2 record and a Northwest Conference co-championship with Crestview. Crestview's coach Jim Wharton finished second in the coach of the year balloting.
Damian Helm was 5-1 with one save on the mound for the Knights while sporting a 1.25 ERA. He struck out 53 batters and walked only 3 in 33 2/3 innings. Helm also hit for a .464 average in league play while batting .343 overall.
Complete results for the Northwest Conference are listed below:
Northwest Conference First Team:
Damian Helm CV 12 Trent Phillips BL 12
Chris McClain BL 12 Quentin Vance PL 12
Ross Thompson DJ 12 Treston Gonzales PL 11
Josh Verhoff CG 12 Kyle Williams LV 12
Cam Etzler CV 12 Jonathan Shimp SV 12
Northwest Conference Second Team:
Austin Jettinghoff DJ 12 Eli Farmer LV 12
Nate Owens CV 11 Travis Wireman AE 11
Brayden Sautter Ada 10 Tanner Stippich AE 11
Erik Neely AE 11 Tyler Rice DJ 12
Riley Brubaker CG 12 Austin Bricker BL 11
Northwest Conference Honorable Mention:
Jordan Roop CV 11 Isaiah Simerman CV 12
Drake Luginbuhl BL 12 Jace Stockwell DJ 9
Braden Goodwin AE 11 Slade Downing Ada 12
Corbin Edwards PL 10 Kyle Kauser PL 12
Hunter French SV 10 Javier Gonzales PL 12
Connor English Ada 11
Final Northwest Conference Standings (league games only):
1. Bluffton 6-2
1. Crestview 6-2
3. Lincolnview 5-3
3. Jefferson 5-3
5. Paulding 4-4
6. Columbus Grove 3-5
6. Spencerville 3-5
8. Ada 2-6
8. Allen East 2-6
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, October 2, 2026
- John "Jack" Palte, 88, was a farmer
- Nature walk at university Nature Preserve, Oct. 3
- ICYMI: September 2026 Bluffton Icon Highlights
- Walking through Autumn series brings hikers to Bluffton
- Pirate volleyball win vs. Spencerville
- Pirate boys soccer ties Ottawa-Glandorf
- Pirate girls soccer loss vs. Toledo St. Ursula
- October 2 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Can you bake a winning pie?
- Library seeks Holiday Gift Auction donations
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- Pirate volleyball loss vs. Lincolnview
- Village of Bluffton meetings announced, Oct. 1-Nov. 2
- 100 years of being Beavers: 2026 Bluffton University Homecoming, Oct. 2-4
- Check out October 2026 BPL Update
- Final call for for Bluffton photos contest
- Pandora-Gilboa HS crowns Homecoming King and Queen
- Bluffton Council recap: Purchase of Marsh Run acres approved
- Senior Center's October membership dinner
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
- Pirate volleyball sweeps Wapakoneta
- Pirate boys golf 4th at NWC tourney; Meyer places 2nd
- Pirate girls soccer shuts out Lima Central Catholic
- Pirate boys soccer shuts out Lima Central Catholic
- Pirate girls tennis blanks Kenton
- Bluffton Fall Festival overflows with family fun
- Stauber exhibit at Massillon Museum through November 1
- Arlington invites generations of alumni to all-school Homecoming
Monday, September 28, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, September 21-27
- Alan K. Yoder, O.D., 86, owned Family Eye Care Clinic of Bluffton
- I-75 lane restrictions in Hancock County, Sept. 28-Oct. 2
- Travis Michael Swank, 40, was a salesman
- NetVUE panel highlights chaplaincy, vocation and meaningful work
- Bluffton Presbyterian hosts community-wide Socktober drive