Baseball story follows the softball story
By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Homestanding Bluffton lost 3-2 to Paulding in the final inning of a Northwest Conference softball nailbiter  Monday evening.

The Lady Pirates fell to 2-9 and 1-3 in the NWC after the defeat. The Panther girls improved to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in the NWC with the victory. 

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Paulding pushed a run across the plate. The Panthers moved ahead 2-0 with another run in the top of the sixth.

Yet the Lady Pirates tied it in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run off the bat of junior Riley Busch.

But Paulding broke the tie with a run in the top of the seventh inning, and held on for the hard-fought win.
    
Bluffton junior Lauren Swartzlander doubled and hit a single as the Pirates out-hit Paulding, 10-6. Senior Rebekah Hoff and freshman Ashley Fleece each singled twice. 

Sophomore Dyllan Worcester, senior Grace Myers and junior Sophie Bricker each added a single for the Pirates.  

Gabbie Stallbaum led Paulding with a home run, double and two runs batted in. Maci Kauser hit a double, while Jocelynn Parrett singled home a run. Jalynn Parrett and Morgan Iler each added a single.

    123    456    7    R    H    E    
Pau    000    101    1    3    6    0        
Blu    000    002    0    2    10    0
WP-Egnor    LP-Davis (0-3)        
2B-Stallbaum (P), Swartzlander (B), Kauser (P)     
HR-Busch (B), Stallbaum (P)    

The Pirate girls return to NWC play at second-place Lincolnview (10-2, 3-0 NWC) Thursday, April 22. The Lady Lancers whipped Columbus Grove 12-2 Monday.

Bluffton boys blanked by Panthers

BLUFFTON - The host Bluffton baseball team was throttled 25-0 by Paulding Monday evening in Northwest Conference action.

The Pirates dropped to 0-12 and 0-4 in the NWC with the lopsided defeat. Paulding improved to 9-4 (3-1 NWC) with the victory. 

The Panthers pounded out 26 hits while limiting Bluffton to just two hits. Paulding cranked out eight doubles, two homers and a triple for 11 extra-base hits.

The visitors scored four runs in the top of the first inning, and broke the game wide-open with 15 runs in the second frame. The Panthers then added six runs in the top of the fifth.

Freshmen Braeden Jordan and Daniel Fredritz singled to provide the Pirate hits.

Winning pitcher Jacob Martinez struck out eight Pirates and gave up two hits in four innings. He also doubled, hit four singles, scored three runs and drove in six runs.

Panther Hunter Kauser slammed two home runs, collected three RBI and scored three times. Sam Woods hit a triple, singled twice, knocked in three runs and scored four runs.

Blake McGarvey doubled, singled twice, scored three runs and drove in one. Andrew Adams doubled and knocked in three runs while scoring once. 

Logan Tope hit a double, singled and drove home a pair. Peyton Adams doubled and drove in four runs while also scoring four times.

Paulding stole six bags and left eight runners on base, while Bluffton stranded four runners.

    123        456    7    R    H    E    
Pau    4(15)0    06x    x    25    26    0        
Blu    000        00x    x    0    2    0
WP-Martinez    LP-D. Friedritz        
2B-Martinez (P), McGarvey 2 (P), A. Adams (P), Price (P), Beckman (P), Tope (P)    , P. Adams (P)    
3B-Woods (P)        
HR-Kauser 2 (P)    

Weather permitting, Bluffton is scheduled to play at non-league foe Ft. Jennings (1-10) Wednesday, April 21. FJ lost to Antwerp 12-2 Monday.

The Pirates then resume league play Thurday, April 22 at Lincolnview (10-3, 3-0 NC). The Lancers whitewashed Columbus Grove 12-0 Monday in conference action.