By Cort Reynolds

CONVOY – The Bluffton High School softball team lost a seesaw Northwest Conference battle at co-league leader Crestview 10-7 Tuesday evening, April 18.

The Pirate girls fell to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in the NWC with the tough defeat. 

Crestview improved to 8-4 and moved into sole possession of first place in the NWC at 4-0 with the win. The Knights lead Ada (3-0) by a half-game.

Bluffton trailed 2-0 after one inning, yet rallied to take the lead with a four-run second frame. Crestview halved their deficit with a run in the bottom of the third. 

The Lady Knights regained the lead with two runs in the home half of the fourth. The hosts scored a run in the fifth to build a 6-4 edge. 

Resilient Bluffton bounced back with a three-run sixth inning to forge ahead, 7-6.

But Crestview answered with four runs in the home half of the sixth to go back in front for good, 10-7.

The Knights then held the Pirates scoreless in the top of the seventh to hold on for the win.

Ashley Fleece helped lead the Pirate offense with three hits, a run and one RBI.

Adanna Johnstone slugged a triple, singled and knocked in two runs with one run scored. Dyllan Worcester also smacked a triple and a single, and scored a run while driving in one.

Olivia Hobensack drilled a double, scored two runs and had one RBI. Lauren Bassett stroked a two-run single.

Pirate hurler Hannah Davis gave up six earned runs and 14 hits in six innings. She walked two batters and struck out four. She drove in one run at the plate.

Olivia Matthews added a hit.

Crestview out-hit Bluffton 14-10 as the Knights knocked out four doubles.

Crestview made three errors, while Bluffton committed two miscues.

Both teams left seven runners on base in the back and forth battle.

Bluffton (1-2 NWC) hosts Leipsic (3-4, 1-2 NWC) in a league game Thursday evening.

123 456 7 R H E

BLUFF        040 003 0 – 7 10 2  

CVIEW       201 214 x -- 10 14 3

LOB--BLUFFTON 7, CRESTVIEW 7. 

E--Ashley Fleece, Adanna Johnstone, K Castle (2), McCoy. 

2B--Olivia Hobensack, Thornell, Sawmiller, McCoy, Mosier. 

3B—Dyllan Worcester, Adanna Johnstone. 

HBP--Danielle Cross. 

SACB-Ross.

 BLUFFTON                       IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR

Hannah Davis                   6.0   14   10    6    2       4      0

 CRESTVIEW                  

O Heckler                           7.0   10    7    2    0       8      0

PB--Karliegh Davis (2). WP--Hannah Davis (2), Heckler.

BB--Sawmiller, Ross.

END