New record!

Crestview’s 4×200 relay team set a new school record at the Troy Relays on Friday. The quartet of Liam Putman, Drayden Hoffman, Hayden Perrott and Braxton Leeth finished fourth overall but set the new Crestview record with a time of 1:32.11. Photo submitted

Lancer softball “Aces” Hicksville

VW independent sports

It wasn’t easy, but Lincolnview took both ends of a softball doubleheader against visiting Hicksville on Saturday.

The Lancers won the first game 1-0, with Sylvia Longstreth’s fourth inning RBI single that scored Lainey Spear accounting for the game’s only run. Meanwhile freshman Ila Hughes held the Aces at bay, allowing just two hits while striking out eight.

In the second game, Lincolnview trailed 3-1 after three innings but tied the game with a pair of runs in the fourth, then added five more runs in the fifth for an 8-3 win. Longstreth hit a run scoring triple in the fourth inning, then Hughes and Allie Miller delivered RBI singles in the fifth. Emerson Walker, Hughes, Miller and Longstreth each had two hits for the Lancers. Emma Bowersock went the distance on the mound and allowed three runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Lincolnview (13-2) is scheduled to play at Columbus Grove today.

OHSAA shares cross country news

Submitted information

COLUMBUS — With cross country expanding to four divisions this fall, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced the new divisional breakdowns, along with a new three-year contract with Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park to host three OHSAA cross country events each fall.

Divisional breakdowns for the fall sports of golf, girls tennis, soccer and girls volleyball will be announced on Monday. The 2025 football divisional breakdowns and regional playoff assignments will be announced next Thursday, May 1.

Since 2020, the OHSAA has annually held three cross country events at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park in Southeast Columbus, including the Early Season Invitational in mid-August, the 7^th-8^th Grade Invitational in mid-October and the high school Cross Country State Championships on the first Saturday in November. The contract extension with Obetz is for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 seasons.

“Obetz has been such a great host for our three cross country events,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director. “The stadium and park have proven to be a fantastic venue for our student-athletes to compete. We appreciate all the work that goes into all three events and are excited to be there for the next three years.”

As announced in January, the OHSAA will expand cross country from three to four divisions this fall. The breakdowns for the new four-division format were approved by the OHSAA Board of Directors at its April meeting on Thursday. The 2025 divisional breakdowns are posted at: https://www.ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Cross-Country/2025-Cross-Country

Cougars shut down by Wapakoneta

VW independent sports

WAPAKONETA — Van Wert was no match for No. 13 Wapakoneta (8-0, 4-0 WBL), as the Redskins held the Cougars to just one hit in a 10-0 five inning victory on Friday. Case Stegaman had Van Wert’s only hit of the game.

The Cougars (7-4, 2-3 WBL) will host Delphos St. John’s today.

Roundup: Lancers enjoy another no-hitter

VW independent sports

Softball

Lincolnview 14 Spencerville 0 (five innings)

Lainey Spear smacked a grand slam home run, Ila Hughes pitched five innings of perfect ball and Lincolnview improved to 11-3 (3-0 NWC) with a 14-0 five inning win over Spencerville on Thursday.

Already leading 2-0, Spear’s blast came in the second inning and scored Emma Bowersock, Emerson Walker and Ashlyn Price. The Lancers also scored six runs in the fourth inning, including back-to-back RBI triples by Walker and Quinlyn Walker. Hughes struck out 11 Bearcat batters and allowed no hits or walks. It was her third no-hitter of the season.

Lincolnview is scheduled to host Hicksville in a doubleheader on Saturday.

Van Wert 7 Miller City 2

Emma West struck out a dozen Wildcat batters and Van Wert defeated Miller City 7-2 on Thursday. She also had two hits, drove in two runs and scored a pair of runs for the Cougars.

Lauren Gearhart, Lilly Serna and Haylee Prine each had an RBI.

Van Wert is scheduled to play at Wapakoneta today.

Crestview 10 Bluffton 2

CONVOY — Crestview enjoyed a 10-2 win over Bluffon on Thursday.

Game statistics were not available.

Baseball

Crestview 8 Bluffton 0

CONVOY — Zaine Cereghin and Ayden Hyitt each drove in two runs and Crestview blanked Bluffton 8-0 on Thursday. It was the fifth win in six outings for the Knights (6-6, 4-1 NWC).

Owen Heckler earned the complete game win by scattering six hits while striking out two.

The Knights will travel to Allen East on Monday.

Lincolnview 9 Spencerville 4

The Lancers erased a 3-1 deficit with a five run fourth inning and Lincolnview went on to defeat Spencerville 9-4 on Thursday.

A triple by Gavin Evans plated Seth Brant and Jackson Ingledue, then Grant Zielke singled in Evans to give Lincolnview a 5-3 lead. Caleb Buehrer added a run by scoring on a Bearcat error, then an RBI single by Carter Stevens scored Chayse Overholt, making it 6-3. The Lancers padded the lead with a fifth inning two-RBI double by Zavier Kemler that scored Case Young and Evans.

Lincolnview (9-2, 3-0 NWC) is scheduled to play New Bremen today.

Prep baseball, softball roundup

VW independent sports

Baseball

Van Wert 2 Crestview 1

CONVOY — Van Wert and Crestview were scoreless after four innings but in the fifth inning, Case Stegaman singled home Griffin McCracken and Nate Gearhart, enough runs for a 2-1 victory over the Knights. Bryson Penix singled in Huxley Grose in the bottom of the fifth, but Crestview could draw no closer.

The game was largely a pitchers duel. Van Wert’s Hayden Dowler worked the first 4 ²/₃ innings and gave up five hits, struck out three and walked one. Gearhart pitched the remainder of the game and held the Knights hitless with a strikeout. Luke Sawmiller pitched the first five innings for Crestview and allowed three hits while fanning five and walking three. Braxton Couts pitched the remaining two innings and gave up a hit.

Zaine Cereghin had three of Crestview’s five hits.

The Knights will host Bluffton today and the Cougars will travel to Wapakoneta on Friday.

Softball

Lincolnview 21 Ottoville 0 (five innings)

Emma Bowersock threw a no-hitter and Lincolnview rolled to a five inning, 21-0 win over visiting Ottoville on Wednesday. Bowersock struck out 11 and walked two.

All of Lincolnview’s runs came in the second and third innings – six runs were scored in the second inning, then 15 runs in the third. The Lancers finished with 14 hits, including two each by Emerson Walker, Ashlyn Price, Ila Hughes, Lainey Spear and Bowersock. Spear, Walker and Quinlyn Walker each homered for Lincolnview. Ottoville was plagued by 11 errors in the game.

The Lancers will host Spencerville today.

Wayne Trace 17 Crestview 4 (five innings)

CONVOY — Wayne Trace jumped out to a 6-1 first inning lead and the Raiders went on to a 17-4 win in five innings on Wednesday.

Tianna Sinn led Wayne Trace with three hits and four RBIs, while Allison Noggle, Brooke Tigner and Addyson LaBounty each had two hits. Tigner and LaBounty each had two RBIs. Alli Thatcher finished with two of Crestview’s six hits, but the Knights were hampered by four errors in the game.

Crestview will host Bluffton today, while Wayne Trace will host Ayersville.

County teams collide…

A lot of great plays were made during Wednesday’s non-conference baseball game between Van Wert and Crestview. Nate Gearhart (above) came on in relief of Hayden Dowler and pitched more than two innings of no-hit ball. While shortstop Bryson Penix (below) makes a throw for the Knights. Van Wert won the game 2-1. Wyatt Richardson/Van Wert independent

VW baseball, softball fall to Defiance

VW independent sports

Baseball

Defiance 7 Van Wert 4

At Russell Fisher Field, No. 7 Defiance improved to 6-0 (3-0 WBL) with a 7-4 over Van Wert on Tuesday.

Khalil Ligon snapped a 4-4 tie with a two-RBI triple in the top of the fifth, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Brez Zipfel. The game was tied 1-1 after one inning, then the Cougars took a 2-1 lead after two innings, after Nate Gearhart scored on a Bulldog error. Defiance scored three runs in the top of the third, including a two-run double by Noah Gomez, but Hayden Dowler tied the game 4-4 with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the third.

Hayden Davis had a team high three hits for the Cougars, while Dowler and Briston Wise each had two. Wise pitched the first six innings and four earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and five walks. Zipfel struck out seven for Defiance.

Van Wert (6-3, 2-2 WBL) will play at Crestview today.

Softball

Defiance 11 Van Wert 0 (five innings)

DEFIANCE — Defiance’s Addison Miller pitched a perfect game against Van Wert and the Bulldogs blanked the Cougars 11-0 in five innings on Tuesday.

Miller allowed no hits or walks and struck out nine Van Wert batters. She also hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.

The Cougars will host Miller City on Thursday.

Scott cruises to new 3200 record

VW independent sports

OTTAWA – Van Wert distance runner Owen Scott shattered his own school record in the 3200 meter run at Ottawa-Glandorf on Tuesday. Scott, who has signed to run for Youngstown State, spanned the distance in 9:12, topping his previous record of 9:37.

Check back later for more results.

Prep roundup: softball, baseball

VW independent sports

Softball

Van Wert 6 Antwerp 1

Aubrey Wollet and Katie DeAmicis each drove in two runs to lead Van Wert to a 6-1 home win over Antwerp on Monday. Emma West and Emma Haines each had an RBI as well.

Three of Van Wert’s runs came in the third inning, when Wollet doubled home Maria Parish and Ella Kimmel, then on an RBI single by DeAmicis that plated Wollet. The remaining three runs came in the fifth when Parish scored on an Antwerp error, West singled in Wollet and DeAmicis scored on an error.

West went the distance on the mound and allowed seven hits while striking out 10 and walking just one.

The Cougars (3-5) will play at Defiance today.

Leo (IN) 1 Lincolnview 0

LEO – In a matchup of state ranked teams from bordering states, Leo defeated Lincolnview 1-0 on Monday. The Lions are ranked No. 5 in Class 3A in Indiana, the equivalent of Division II in Ohio, while the Lancers are ranked No. 4 in Division VI.

The game’s only run came in the first inning on an RBI single by Carley Funk. The hit was one of just four by Leo (8-2). Lincolnview (9-2) was held to three hits, two by Ila Hughes, who struck out six on the mound.

The Lancers are scheduled to host Ottoville on Wednesday.

Crestview 13 Columbus Grove 0 (five innings)

COLUMBUS GROVE – Alli Thatcher tossed a one hitter and Crestview rolled to a five inning 13-0 win over Columbus Grove on Monday. Thatcher struck out three and walked one.

The Knights scored three runs in each of the first two innings then added one in the third inning. Four runs were scored in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

Violet Dirr doubled in a pair of runs in the first and finished with four hits and three RBIs. Kaci Gregory and Kaydacen Rodriguez each finished with two RBIs. Gregory and Dakota Thornell each had three hits, including two doubles.

Crestview (5-10) will host Wayne Trace on Wednesday.

Baseball

Van Wert 7 Wayne Trace 3

Van Wert scored three runs in the first inning and went on to beat Wayne Trace 7-3 on Monday. The victory improved Van Wert’s overall record to 6-2 on the season.