By Cort Reynolds

VAN WERT__The Lincolnview baseball team clinched at least a share of its fifth straight Northwest Conference championship with a 5-0 shutout of the Bluffton High School team on Thursday, May 1.

The Lancers scored four runs in the third inning to break up a scoreless tie.

The Pirates fell to 7-10 overall and 1-4 in NWC play after the loss. The Lancers improved to 12-3 and 5-0 in the NWC after the win.

Lincolnview out-hit the Pirates, 6-4.

Winning Lancer hurler Graham Kill pitched a complete-game shutout. He allowed just four singles and one walk, while striking out three.

Robby Taylor, Blayne Hill, Luke Jebsen and Evan Speicher singled to provide the Pirate hits.

Myles Moody hit two singles for the Lancers. Gavin Evans tripled, drew a walk and collected three RBI. Seth Brant hit an RBI double, walked once and was hit by a pitch.

Pirate Taylor pitched two innings of hitless relief. Jake Weaver hurled two scoreless innings in relief.

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WP-Kill LP-McDonald

2B-Brant (L)

3B-Evans (L)