Tuesday baseball, softball recap

VW independent sports

Baseball

Lincolnview 12 Ayersville 1 (five innings)

In the long awaited home opener for Lincolnview, the Lancers held Ayersville to just one hit, while scoring nine runs in the fourth inning in a run-shortened 12-1 win on Tuesday.

Lincolnview wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. After back-to-back walks in the bottom of the first, Seth Brant singled in Holden Price, then Evan Rahrig doubled and drove in Case Young and Seth Brant for a 3-0 lead. Ayersville scored a run in the top of the second and the score remained 3-1 until the bottom of the fourth, when the Lancers plated nine runs. Holden Price had an RBI, then scored along with Chayse Overholt on an error by the Pilots. Gavin Evans drilled a two-RBI double to center field, Grant Zielke drove in a run and Jackson Ingledue singled home a run. Lincolnview also scored on a wild pitch and another Ayersville error.

Brant finished with three hits, while Rahrig and Zielke each tallied two hits. Young, Rahring and Evans each drove in two runs. Graham Kill, Evans and Price teamed up to allow just one hit, while striking out five.

The Lancers will begin NWC play at Crestview on Thursday.

Parkway 8 Crestview 2

CONVOY — The Knights dropped their season opener to Parkway 8-2 on Tuesday. Game statistics were not available.

Crestview will Fort Jennings today.

Softball

Parkway 3 Lincolnview 2

ROCKFORD — In a highly anticipated matchup, Parkway scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Panthers topped Lincolnview 3-2 on Tuesday.

Lincolnview (4-2) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Emme Stevens scored on a wild pitch. Parkway tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when Brittyn Bruns scored on a sacrifice fly by Megan Hughes. In the second, Avery Hoaglin scored on a grounder by Quinlyn Walker. Parkway (7-0)  tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the third when Bruns scored on a grounder by Madelyn Stover.

Ila Hughes allowed three hits and three runs (one earned), while striking out seven and walking three. Parkway’s Bryn Schoenleben earned the complete game win and gave up two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts and three walks.

Random Thoughts: very random edition

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

This week’s installment of Random Thoughts centers around Mother Nature, more shot clock news, the NCAA Women’s Final Four, an open note to the NCAA, and paying big bucks to park.

Mother Nature

Mother Nature just wasn’t having it last week – very few spring sports games and events happened as planned. I’m guessing 90 percent or more of local games were postponed due to seemingly non-stop rain.

Here’s hoping this week is better – a lot better.

More shot clock

If you read last week’s Sports page, no doubt you saw that someone jumped the gun with news of a high school shot clock in Ohio. No formal proposal was submitted to the OHSAA. Make no mistake though, it’s coming – the proposal and in all probability, the shot clock itself.

Once the proposal is submitted by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association, it’ll be the OHSAA’s nine member Board of Directors that makes the decision – yes or no. Either way, it’s not expected to be a unanimous decision. Five yes votes are needed.

Honestly, I’ll be shocked if it doesn’t pass. I will find it extremely interesting if, when the time comes, the vote is close, like 5-4. I do expect at least 1-2 no votes.

If all goes as planned, the shot clock will be used as the girls and boys varsity level during the regular season only, not the tournament, during the 2027-2028 season. That seems a little odd, but apparently that’s going to be in the proposal. The 2028-2029 season is when it would be fully implemented, regular season and tournament.

Women’s Final Four

Did anyone really see UConn losing in the national semifinals? I didn’t. Did anyone see UCLA winning the national championship by 28 points? I sure didn’t. It was an interesting Final Four to say the least.

Monday prep baseball, softball roundup

VW independent sports

Baseball

Van Wert 9 Parkway 6

ROCKFORD — A sixth run fifth inning by Van Wert was the difference as the Cougars improved to 3-0 with a 9-6 win over Parkway on Monday.

Trevor Halker opened the sixth with a double, then scored on a single by Cam Werts to give Van Wert a 4-2 lead. Werts later scored on a single by Zander Coleman, then Griffin McCracken doubled home Wyatt Scott and Conner Harris for a 7-2 lead. Coleman scored on a bases loaded walk and McCracken scored on a sacrifice fly by Halker. Parkway scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth but could draw no closer.

Werts led the Cougars with three hits while McCracken and Halker each finished with two hits. Scott Harris and Finley Dickenson combined for six strikeouts.

The Cougars will open WBL play at Shawnee today.

Lincolnview 27 Ottoville 0

OTTOVILLE — After a week of postponements due to rain, Lincolnview’s 2026 season finally began in a big way on Monday, as the Lancers routed Ottoville 27-0 in six innings.

Chayse Overholt and Holden Price each drove in four runs in the victory, while Case Young, Grant Zielke and Marshall Hammons each finished with two RBI. Price had a team high four hits, including two triples.

The Lancers scored nine runs in the first inning then added 12 more in the second, two in the fourth and four in the fifth. Overholt, Max Hammons, Young and Owen Long teamed up to hold the Big Green to just two hits in the game. Ottoville was plagued by eight errors in the game.

Lincolnview (1-0) will host Ayersville today.

Softball

Lincolnview 11 Coldwater 1 (five innings)

COLDWATER — Lainey Spear drove in four runs and Lincolnview bounced back from Saturday’s loss to Defiance with a five inning, 11-1 win over Coldwater on Monday.

Lancer softball team falls to Defiance

VW independent sports

DEFIANCE — A pair of errors in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Defiance a 2-1 walk off win over Lincolnview on Saturday. The Lancers were plagued by six errors in the game.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Defiance scored on a sacrifice fly by Elley Ward. Lincolnview answered in the top of the sixth when Ansley Schwab scored on a sac fly by Lainey Spear. In the seventh, the Bulldogs got runners on with two outs via an error and a walk, then scored on another error.

Both teams had just four hits in the game. Lincolnview’s Ila Hughes struck out 10 and walked two.

Lincolnview (3-1) will travel to Coldwater today.

Crestview hoops awards

The Crestview boys basketball program recently concluded its season with head coach Doug Etzler and his coaching staff, recognizing various accomplishments throughout the season, which ended at the Division VI regional semifinals. NWC Scholar-Athletes (above, left to right): Hudson Perrott, Will Sheets and Liam Putman. Not pictured: Denver McDougall. Special awards (below): Cash Hammons (70 percent Free Throw Club), Liam Putman (Defensive Award), Hudson Perrott (Hustle Award), Hayden Perrott (Most Assists, Offensive Award, NWC Second Team, District 8 Second Team, All-Northwest District Third Team, All-Ohio Honorable Mention), Will Sheets (Most Rebounds, Offensive Award, NWC Second Team, All-Northwest District Honorable Mention), Huxley Grose (Knight Pride Award), Braxton Leeth (Knight Pride Award), Owen Heckler (Most Improved). Not pictured: Denver McDougall (Most Improved). Photos submitted

Crestview girls basketball awards

The Crestview girls basketball program concluded its season with head coach Mark Gregory and his coaching staff recognizing the team’s accomplishments throughout the season. Scholar-Athletes (above, row 1, left to right): Evie Williman, Kaci Gregory and Peyton Hoffman. Row 2: Kenzie Harting, Emily Heth, Alecta Baxter, Ayla Kreischer, Kaylee Owens and Lydia Grace. Not pictured is Lillie Best. Special Awards: (below, row 1, left to right): Lydia Grace (Defense Award), Haley McCoy (Most Rebounds, NWC Honorable Mention), Zoe Ross (70 percent Free Throw Club). Row 2: Peyton Hoffman (Most 3s, NWC Honorable Mention), Kaci Gregory (Most Steals, Most Assists, 70 percent Free Throw Club, MVP Award, NWC First Team, All-Northwest District First Team, All-Ohio Honorable Mention). Not pictured: Lillie Best (Knight Awards, NWC Honorable Mention). Photos submitted

Cougar track team hosts tri-meet

VW independent staff/submitted information

Van Wert High School hosted its only home track and field meet of the season on Thursday, welcoming Napoleon and Allen East for a competitive three team event highlighted by strong performances and a special senior recognition ceremony.

Before competition began, the Cougars honored their three senior athletes – Harper Roop, Nick Edwards, and Katie Kramer – for their dedication and contributions to the program.

“The trio played key roles throughout the meet, representing Van Wert with leadership and effort across multiple events,” head coach Nate Hoverman said.

On the girls side, Van Wert finished second overall with 65 points, just behind Napoleon’s 76. The Cougars were led by several standout performances, including a win from Haven Hunt in the 100-meter dash (13.71) and a dominant 1-2 finish in the 800-meter run by Ruby Dicke (2:41.24) and Leah Krites (2:41.98). Symphony Schuerman added another victory in the 3200 meters, while Flannery Foster captured the discus title with a throw of 106-1 and placed second in the shot put.

Van Wert also showed depth in relays, placing second in the 4×100, 4×200, 4×400, and 4×800, with senior Harper Roop contributing across multiple relay teams. In the field, Livie Parrish and Lily Greve tied for second in the high jump, while Whitney Holliday added a runner-up finish in the long jump.

On the boys side, Van Wert placed third with 44 points in a meet won by Allen East. The Cougars were led by Micah Cowan’s win in the 200 meters (24.64), along with distance victories from Evan Keuneke in the 800 (2:11.06), Harrison Sloan in the 1600 (5:02.22), and Alexander Bauer in the 3200 (11:10.39).

The boys 4×800 relay team also secured a first-place finish, continuing a strong showing from the distance squad. In the throws, senior Nick Edwards placed in both the shot put (fourth) and discus (third), contributing valuable team points.

With a mix of event wins, relay consistency, and senior leadership, Van Wert made the most of its lone home meet, celebrating its seniors while competing at a high level across both teams.

Cougar basketball awards

After a 19-7 (8-1 WBL) season that included sectional and district championships and a trip to the Division IV regional semifinals, the Van Wert boys basketball program held its annual awards program Tuesday night. Show above, left to right, are: Kaiven Welch: “Pride Award”; Keaten Welch: Third Team All-WBL; Cohen Bragg: Second Team All-WBL, Honorable Mention All-Northwest District; Zach Crummey: “Chairman of The Boards”, Second Team WBL, Honorable Mention All-Northwest District; Xavier Kelly: “Cougar Award”, First Team All -WBL, Second Team All-Northwest District, Second Team District 8, Honorable Mention All-Ohio; Griffin McCracken: “Claw Award”, Third Team All-WBL, and Caden Collins: “Grit Award”, Honorable Mention All-WBL. Photos submitted

Van Wert coaches presenting the District Championship trophy and game ball to the seniors: Coach Helm, Coach Best, Griffin McCracken, Kaiven Welch, Coach Shindeldecker, and Coach Altimus.

Members of the “Sweet 16” team, consisting of members of both the cheerleading and basketball teams, received commemorative plaques from Coach Best and Cheer Coach Jacque Welch.

No high school shot clock proposal, yet

Editor’s note: this story has been updated with a statement from OHSAA Director of Media Relations Tim Stried.

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

Despite other published media reports, a formal shot clock proposal has not been submitted to the Ohio High School Athletic Association. However, it certainly appears as though it’s in the works.

Joe Balogh, a longtime boys basketball coach at Ontario High School who amassed 598 wins at the school near Mansfield, is the executive director of the OHSBCA. He said this week that the group discussed a proposal with OHSAA basketball administrators but confirmed no formal proposal was submitted. He did indicate that a test run of sorts took place at three events during the 2025-2026 season, as well as at an event the previous season.

“Two years ago, our association held a shot clock event in December over three days at the Canton Fieldhouse where we had both girls and boys teams compete,” Balogh explained. “This past year we again held our event at the Canton Fieldhouse in December and then also expanded it to any events held over Martin Luther King weekend that got approval from our association and the OHSAA. We had three events apply and all three were approved (The Classic in the Country at Berlin Hiland, The Battle in the 614 at Ohio Dominican, and the MLK Classic at Fort Loramie).”

Balogh added the OHSBCA is expanding the shot clock to any multi-team event that applies and is approved by the OHSBCA and the OHSAA during the 2026-2027 then after that, if all goes as planned, a 35-second shot clock will become statewide the following season.

“As we evaluated this process our hope is that in 2027-2028 the shot clock would be an option for schools to use during the regular season and then in 2028-2029 it would be implemented for regular season play and tournament play.”

While the proposal has yet to be submitted, Balogh said the shot clock would be used at the girls and boys varsity level, but schools would be allowed to use it at the junior varsity and freshmen level.

Tim Stried, Director of Media Relations with the OHSAA said the OHSAA won’t have any comment on the proposal until it is formally presidented to the board of directors. He did offer a statement on what would follow.

“After it is proposed, the board will vote on the proposal at a future meeting, with a simple majority being required to pass the proposal,” Stried explained. “There are nine voting members on the board, so five yes votes are needed. Certainly some coaches and administrators are in favor with the proposal, but I can tell you that not all coaches and administrators are in favor with the proposal.”

If eventually implemented, Ohio would join a growing number of states that use a shot clock. 32 states had shot clocks this past season and three others, Illinois, Kentucky and Pennsylvania will implement it by the 2028-2029 season or before.

First Team All-American!

She was an All-Ohioan while at Crestview and now, Cali Gregory is a first team NAIA All-American. The 5-10 sophomore guard plays for the University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne and this past season, she averaged a team-high 16.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while converting nearly 46 percent of her three point attempts. Gregory led the USF Cougars to a 30-5 record and to the quarterfinals of the NAIA women’s basketball tournament. USF Athletics photo