By Cort Reynolds
DELPHOS - Bluffton had two baseball players earn All-Northwest Conference notice in voting conducted by the league coaches Monday night at Delphos.

Junior Cayden Rayle was voted second team All-NWC, while freshman Nick Prater was named honorable mention all-league.

The entire league list is attached -

The young and rebuilding Pirates finished 2-18 overall this season, and came in last in the NWC. Paulding (8-0) knocked off state-ranked Lincolnview (7-1) in the regular season finale 6-4 to capture the NWC title.

Columbus Grove (6-2), Crestview (5-3), Delphos Jefferson (4-4), Spencerville (3-5), Allen East (2-6), Ada (1-7) and Bluffton (0-8) rounded out the nine-team league standings.

Lincolnview senior shortstop/pitcher Jaden Youtsey was named NWC Player of the Year. He received 193 out of a possible 200 points in the voting.

Youtsey hit .560 in eight conference games. Overall, he hit at a .544 clip with 27 RBI and 18 stolen bases this spring. Youtsey also compiled a 4-0 record and a perfect ERA of 0.00 on the mound in 2019.    

Paulding coach Travis McGarvey was voted NWC Coach of the Year by his peers Monday. McGarvey led the Panthers to their 15th conference baseball championship with the win over Lincolnview.  

Final Northwest Conference Standings (league games only):

                  1.  Paulding                          8-0

                  2.  Lincolnview                   7-1

                  3.  Columbus Grove            6-2

                  4.  Crestview                        5-3

                  5.  Delphos Jefferson          4-4

                  6.  Spencerville                    3-5

                  7.  Allen East                       2-6

                  8.  Ada                                  1-7

                  9.  Bluffton                           0-8