Carey  homers blast Pirate boys 
By Cort Reynolds
CAREY - The visiting Buffton baseball team lost 16-6 at Carey on a warm Tuesday evening.

The Pirates fell to 0-4 with the five-inning, run-rule shortened defeat.

Blue Devils Jordan Vallejo and Gavin Baker each hit two home runs to lead Carey's 12-hit offense. In the first inning, the duo slammed back-to-back homers as they built an early 8-0 lead.

The Pirates rallied within 8-5 behind a big third inning, but Carey scored eight unanswered runs to put the game out of reach.

Pirate freshman Garret Bogart smacked two doubles and drove in two runs to pace the Bluffton offense. 

Ian Yeater smacked a double and a single and collected an RBI for the Blue Devils. Vallejo drove in five runs, while Baker compiled three RBI.

    123    456    7    R    H    E
Blu?    005??    10x    x     6     3     3
Car??    351??    25x    x    16     12     1
WP-Frederick     LP-Pahl (0-2) 
2B-Bogart 2 (B), Yeater (C)
HR-Vallejo 2 (C), Baker 2 (C) 

Bluffton is scheduled to entertain Upper Scioto Valley (0-2) March 31. USV lost to Cory-Rawson 15-4 Monday. 

The Pirates then visit Van Buren (1-2) Saturday.

Carey rallies to nip Lady Pirates in 7th
CAREY - Host Carey scored three runs in their final at bat to defeat the Bluffton softball team 13-12 in a wild slugfest on a warm and windy Tuesday evening.

Bluffton fell to 0-2 with the tough defeat, while Carey improved to 2-0.

The Pirate girls led 2-1 after the first inning and were on top 5-4 after three frames.

A four-run fourth inning put the Pirates ahead, 9-6. Carey edged within 11-10 after a Mary Racheter grand slam homer in the bottom of the fifth frame.

The Pirate girls inched ahead 12-10 with a run in the top of the seventh. But Carey pushed across three runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull off the comeback win.

Lauren Swartzlander smashed a three-run home run to pace the Lady Pirate offense. Ashley Fleece contributed two hits and three runs batted in. Riley Busch hit a double, single and had one RBI.

Pirate pitcher Grace Myers singled in one run and Kennedi Jordan drove in two runs.

The hosts out-hit Bluffton, 15-9. Racheter collected four hits and seven RBI to pace the victors. Rylee Row hit two singles. Winning pitcher Mackenzie Simons also singled twice and drove in a run. 

Blue Devil Carmen Conigy tripled and singled. Katelyn Walter added two hits and two RBI.

    123    456    7    R        H        E 
Blf     203    420    1    12    9    3    
Car    112     240    3    13    15    6
WP-Simons (2-0) LP-Myers(0-2)
2B-Busch (B)
3B-Conigy (C)
HR-Swartzlander (B), Racheter (C)

        
The Lady Pirates (0-2) will play at Ottawa-Glandorf (0-3) Thursday, April 1. The Pirate girls are slated to host St. Marys (1-1) in a twinbill Saturday, April 3.

Pirate netters lose to Roughriders
ST. MARYS - The Bluffton boys tennis team fell 3-1 at St. Marys Tuesday evening in their first dual match of the season.

Bluffton sophomore Luke Shadle earned the lone Pirate win at the number two singles spot 7-5, 7-5.

Pirate senior Eden Nygaard lost 6-0, 6-1 at first singles. There was no third singles match.

The Bluffton first doubles team of Thad Mittendorf and Bryan Zimmerman fell 6-4, 6-1. Eli Wenger and Braeden Ackerman also lost at second doubles 6-0, 6-1.

Bluffton (0-1) plays next at Elida (0-1) Wednesday, March 31.