By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Three Bluffton softball players received All-Northwest Conference honors in voting conducted by the league coaches Monday evening.
Lady Pirate junior slugger Riley Busch was named second team all-league.
Senior Kennedi Jordan and junior Sophie Bricker earned honorable mention league notice.
Lincolnview senior Destiny Coil was named NWC Player of the Year, drawing more votes than Paulding shortstop Gabbie Stallbaum and Ada pitcher Leona Dalton.
By Cort Reynolds
FINDLAY - The Bluffton track and field teams competed in the first day of the 13-team Div. III district meet Wednesday at Findlay.
Columbus Grove holds the lead in both the boys and girls standings after the first day. The Pirate boys are fourth and Bluffton girls are sixth after day one, which featured three finals events and many qualifying races.
Day 1 scoring Bluffton finishes (top 8):
Boys Pole Vault
5th Sam Derstine 10 Bluffton J11-0
By Cort Reynolds
RAWSON - The visiting Bluffton baseball team jumped out to an early lead and staved off a late rally to defeat local rival Cory-Rawson 13-10 in non-league play Friday evening.
The Pirates led 6-0 early and extended the margin to 13-5 after five frames. C-R tallied five runs in the sixth and seventh innings to inch within three, but could get no closer.
Freshman-laden Bluffton improved to 1-24 with their first win, while Cory-Rawson dropped to 5-16 with the defeat.
Bluffton out-hit C-R 8-7, drew nine walks and swiped 13 bases.
By Cort Reynolds
ARLINGTON - The visiting Bluffton softball team romped past Arlington 17-2 in a non-league makeup contest under the lights Friday evening.
The Lady Pirates improved to 9-14 with the blowout win. Arlington fell to 3-14 after the defeat.
Bluffton tallied seven runs in the top of the third inning to break open a scoreless contest. The Pirates added four more runs in the fourth to build an 11-0 cushion.
Story by Cort Reynolds
Photos by Jamie Nygaard
COLUMBUS GROVE - The Bluffton boys track and field team finished a strong second at the Northwest Conference meet Thursday and Saturday at Columbus Grove.
Meet host Grove claimed both the boys and girls championships. CG cruised to the boys title with 217.5 points, ahead of second-place Bluffton (123.5).
CG captured the girls crown with 163 points, while Spencerville finished second at 141.
By Cort Reynolds
LIMA - The Bluffton boys tennis team's spring season came to a close after the first day of Div. II sectional play Thursday at UNOH.
No Pirates advanced to the semifinals in day two, although all three Pirate singles competitors won matches in the 35-player draw.
Bluffton's Luke Shadle won his first round singles match over Keaton Fishbaugh of Celina 6-0, 6-4. Shadle then defeated Dylan Byers of Elida 6-0, 6-1 in the round of 32.
