ACME recap: Cougars, Lancers win

Van Wert independent sports

Van Wert 10 St. Marys Memorial 2

Van Wert snapped a 1-1 tie with eight runs in the fourth inning and the Cougars went on defeat visiting St. Marys Memorial 10-2 on Monday.

A first inning RBI single by Hayden Maples scored Keaton Brown and gave Van Wert a 1-0 lead, but the Roughriders tied the game by scoring on an error in the top of the second.

After a scoreless third inning, the Cougars exploded in the bottom of the fourth. A sacrifice fly by Ryan Hollingsworth gave Van Wert a 2-1 lead, a single by Jaxson Amweg increased the lead to 3-1, then Jalen McCracken doubled to left to plate Lennon Bartley. Two batters later, Amweg and McCracken scored on a double by left by Brown. Maples knocked in Jake Lautzenheiser to give Van Wert a 7-1 lead, then Parker Conrad’s single plated Brown and Maples.

The Roughriders picked up a run in the top of the fifth to make it 9-2, but McCracken’s second double of the game plated Amweg and closed the scoring.

Van Wert finished with 13 hits, including three by McCracken and two each by Maples, Conrad, Amweg and T.J. Reynolds. Brown, Maples, Conrad and McCracken each finished with two RBI.

Seven Cougars each pitched an inning for Van Wert – Brown, Bartley, Reynolds, Lautzenheiser, McCracken, Hollingworth and Amweg. The group held the Roughriders to just four hits, and McCracken was given credit for the win.

Van Wert (12-3) will begin ACME sectional tournament action against Crestview or Delphos St. John’s at 4 p.m. on Friday at Crestview.

Lincolnview 6 Delphos St. John’s 1

Collin Overholt had two hits, including an inside the park home run, and four RBI to lead Lincolnview to a 6-1 victory over Delphos St. John’s on Monday.

Jaden Youtsey and Creed Jessee also knocked in runs for the Lancers, and Jessee was given credit for the win on the mound. Thad Walker, Brayden Evans and Overholt also pitched for Lincolnview.

The Lancers finished the ACME regular season at 9-5-1, and will begin tournament play against St. Marys or Delphos Jefferson Friday at 6:15 p.m. at Crestview.