Sports

Bluffton hosts Spencerville on August 26

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls soccer team lost 4-0 to visiting power Wapakoneta in a non-league match to open the season at Steinmetz Field on Tuesday, August 19.

The Pirate girls start out 0-1, while Wapak improved to 2-0 with the victory.

Wapakoneta scored in the 18th and 21st minutes to seize a 2-0 lead at intermission. The Redskin girls tacked on goals in the 42nd and 53rd minutes to put the game out of reach.

By Cort Reynolds

BOTKINS__The visiting Bluffton High School boys soccer team lost 3-0 to tough Botkins on Tuesday night, August 19.

The game was delayed for two hours by inclement weather.

The Pirates fell to 0-2 with the defeat. Botkins, coming off a regional appearance in 2024, improved to 2-0 after the shutout win. 

Botkins sophomore scoring ace Hudson Meyer tallied a pair of goals. 

Trojan senior Trent Paul netted the other Botkins goal.

Bluffton plays at Elida (0-0) on Saturday, Aug. 23. Elida hosts Botkins Thursday.

Home opener vs. Ben Logan on August 22

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School football team is coming off one of its best seasons ever and looks to continue that momentum into 2025 behind an explosive offense.

The 2024 Pirates fashioned a 13-2 record and advanced all the way to the Div. VI state semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Coldwater. 

Home opener is August 20 vs. Pandora-Gilboa

By Cort Reynolds

SHAWNEE__The visiting Bluffton High School volleyball team fell in straight sets to non-league foe Shawnee on Monday, August 18.

The Indians beat the Pirate girls 25-20, 25-20, 25-23.

Bluffton fell to 0-2 with the defeat. Shawnee improved to 1-0 after the win.

Kendall Stackhouse led the Pirate girls by hammering eight kills, and Lainey Grandey drilled six kills.

By Cort Reynolds

VAN WERT__The Bluffton High School girls golf team lost a dual match to Fort Loramie at Hickory Sticks Golf Course in Van Wert on Monday, August 18.

The Pirate girls lost 178-227.

Katie Bauman led Bluffton with a nine-hole score of 50.

FL’s Brooke Gehret was match medalist after firing a 40. Four Redskins - Kim Billing, Madison Pleiman, Macy Schafer and Ava Schafer - each carded a 47 to tie for second. 

PIRATE SCORES

Next home match: Tuesday, Aug. 19 vs. Shawnee

By Cort Reynolds

LIMA – The Bluffton High School girls tennis team lost a 3-2 nailbiter at Lima Senior on the Collett Street courts on Monday, August 18.

The close defeat dropped the Bluffton record to 1-4 this season.

The Bluffton second doubles duo of sophomores Leah Hoffman and Peighton Bowers won 6-1, 6-0 to improve their season record to 4-1.  

Bluffton’s senior first doubles duo of Claire Blackburn and Maizie Digby won by a 6-2, 6-1 count.  

Pages