By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls softball team defeated visiting Northwest Conference foe Spencerville 9-5 in a makeup league finale game Tuesday evening, May 13.

The Pirate girls rode a six-run fourth inning to rally from a 3-1 deficit and win.

The team improved to 5-11 overall and finished 3-4 in the NWC with the victory. Bluffton tied with Allen East for fifth in the eight-team league.

Spencerville fell to 5-18 overall and 1-6 in NWC action after the defeat.

The Bearcat girls led 3-1 heading to the fourth inning. But the Pirates plated six runs in the home fourth to seize a 7-3 lead.

Bluffton tallied two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 9-3. Spencerville scored twice in the top of the sixth but could get no closer than four runs.

Bluffton out-hit the Bearcats, 12-7. The Pirates drew three walks to help offset five errors, compared to three miscues by the visitors. The Bearcats coaxed four walks.

Peyton Worcester hurled seven innings and scattered seven hits to earn the win. She allowed three earned runs with four walks and 10 strikeouts.

Worcester hit a double and singled, and scored a run.

Ryleigh Rex singled twice, drove in two runs and scored a run.   
Macy Schaadt hit two singles and scored a run. Karleigh Davis hit two singles, scored two runs and had one run batted in. She also walked once.

All-NWC Pirate Danielle Cross singled home one run. Brooklyn Moser swatted a double and scored a run. Greta Meyer singled in a run, walked and scored twice.

Emma Green singled and drew a walk. Adelyn Althaus walked in a run and scored once.

Third baseman Haley Hittle slugged a triple and doubled for the Bearcats. 

The Bearcats stranded 10 runners, while the Pirates left eight on base.

Bluffton plays at Ottawa-Glandorf (7-11) in sectional tournament play Wednesday.
    123     456    7     R     H     E

Svl 101 102 0 5 7 3
Blu     010 620 x 9 12 5
WP-Worcester    LP-A. Post

2B-Moser (B), Worcester (B), Huebner (S), Hittle (S)

3B-Hittle (S)

Bluffton senior cleanup hitter Danielle Cross was named first team All-Northwest Conference in voting recently conducted by the league coaches.

Freshman standout pitcher/hitter Ila Hughes of 7-0 league champion Lincolnview was tabbed NWC Player of the Year.

Doug Geary of second-place Delphos Jefferson (14-8, 5-2 NWC) and Eric Schwab of Lincolnview shared league Coach of the Year honors.