By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The host Bluffton girls soccer team broke a 2-2 tie and went on to defeat Ashland Crestview 4-2 in Div. III district semifinal action on a wet and chilly Tuesday night at Steinmetz Field.
The Pirate girls improved to 15-2-1 with their 14th straight victory. The second-seeded Lady Pirates advanced to the district finals where they will take on top seed Liberty-Benton in Bluffton Saturday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association has finalized details for several upcoming state tournaments, including soccer.
In partnership with the Columbus Crew SC, the OHSAA girls and boys soccer state championship games will once again be hosted at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus.
The girls finals will be Friday, Nov. 13, followed by the boys finals on Saturday, Nov. 14. The OHSAA applauds the Crew SC for working with the OHSAA to make it possible for the finals to remain at MAPFRE Stadium, where they have been since 1999.
By Cort Reynolds
Two Bluffton spike standouts recently earned Div. I-II-III honors for District 8 in volleyball.
Junior hitter Kylie Stackhouse was named first team All-District 8. She led the 14-9 Lady Pirates in kills.
Lady Pirate Taylor Schwab was named to the East Honorary Senior squad for the District 8 All-Star Game. She was second on the Pirate team in kills, and was among the leaders in digs.
Sophomore Kaleigh Palmer of Wapakoneta was voted District 8 Div. I Player of the Year.
By Cort Reynolds
Photos by Rae Staton
BLUFFTON - Host Bluffton crushed Elmore Woodmore 9-0 in Div. III boys soccer sectional final action Saturday afternoon at Steinmetz Field.
The blowout victory improved the top-seeded Pirate boys record to 15-0-2 this season.
Jude Spallinger authored a hat trick as seven different Pirates scored in the lopsided win.
Spallinger started the scoring parade in the third minute, then made it 2-0 with another goal in the 14th minute. He found the back of the net for the third time in the 46th minute.
By Cort Reynolds
Photos below by Jamie Nygaard
COLUMBUS GROVE - The Bluffton boys cross country team finished a strong second at the 10-team Div. III district 1 meet Saturday at Columbus Grove.
Host Grove won the boys team title with 31 points. Bluffton came in second to their league foe with 75 points to qualify as a team for regionals next weekend.
Bluffton sophomore Erik Nygaard finished an impressive fourth in a time of 16:46.1 to pace the Pirate boys in the 63-runner field.
The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) continues to showcase members of the Heartland family with the video series Heartland Kids Corner, featuring student athletes interviewed by the children of their coaches.
