Spear named NWC POY, Schwab COY

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Lincolnview’s Lainey Spear has piled up some impressive numbers this spring, which caught the attention of conference coaches. In balloting done by NWC, Spear, Lincolnview’s only softball senior, was named NWC Player of the Year. Playing in all 23 games and counting, Spear is batting .541 with 40 hits, including 18 singles, 10 doubles, a triple and 11 home runs. She has 47 RBIs and holds school records for career home runs and RBIs.

For the third straight season, Lincolnview’s Eric Schwab has been named NWC Coach of the Year. It’s also the fourth time in five seasons he’s earned the honor.

Joining Spear on the All-NWC first team is teammate Ila Hughes, who was last year’s NWC Player of the Year, and a pair of freshmen, Emme Stevens and Ansley Schwab. Another freshman, Bella Hire was named second team All-NWC, while classmate Avery Hoaglin and junior Kassidy Hammons were named honorable mention All-NWC.

Crestview’s Dakota Thornell was named first team All-NWC and teammates Kaci Gregory and Violet Dirr were named second team all conference. Alli Thatcher and Kylie Williams were named honorable mention All-NWC.

First Team All-NWC

Lainey Spear, Sr., Lincolnview

Ila Hughes, So., Lincolnview

Carolyn Mueller, Sr., Delphos Jefferson

Dakota Thornell, Sr., Crestview

Erianne Heffner, Sr., Columbus Grove

Harper Friesner, So., Allen East

Emme Stevens, Fr., Lincolnview

Overholt named POY, Fishpaw COY

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Lincolnview has won six straight Northwest Conference baseball championships and not surprisingly, the Lancers have dominated this year’s all-conference honors.

Not counting 2020, when COVID-19 led to all spring sports being canceled, a Lincolnview baseball player has won NWC Player of the Year honors since 2018. RHP/SS Chayse Overholt, who won the honor last season, was named 2026 NWC Player of the Year in balloting by conference coaches. In NWC games, Overholt pitched 32.1 innings with 47 strikeouts and just six walks. He gave up three earned runs with an ERA of .649. At the plate against NWC foes, Overholt batted .458 with seven RBIs, 11 runs scored and eight stolen bases. Against all opponents, he’s 7-0 with 49 strikeouts and six walks and an ERA of .612. Overholt currently has 23 career wins, one shy of the school record set by Landon Price (2019-2022).

In addition, Lincolnview’s Eric Fishpaw has been named NWC Coach of the Year for the sixth consecutive season. During that time, the Lancers are 52-2 in NWC play and currently stand at 18-4 (7-0 NWC).

Overholt and Holden Price were named first team All-NWC, while teammates Gavin Evans, Seth Brant and Jackson Ingledue were named second team All-NWC. Grant Zielke was named honorable mention All-NWC.

Crestview’s Zaine Cereghin was named first team All-NWC, and teammates Luke Sawmiller and Owen Heckler were named second team all-conference. Huxley Grose earned honorable mention All-NWC accolades.

Roundup: Stoller wins sectional title

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Sectional tennis

LIMA — Van Wert’s Zach Stoller is district-bound, after knocking off top-seeded Evan Brinkman of Lima Central Catholic 6-2, 6-2 in the Division II sectional championship match at Westwood on Saturday. On Thursday, Stoller defeated the No. 2 seed, Leyton Staley of Elida 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals.

“To beat both the No. 2 and No. 1 seeds the way he did shows the hard work, focus and determination Zach has put in all season long,” head coach Mitch Price said. “He played with confidence and competed at a high level all day. We could not be more proud of the way he represented Van Wert boys tennis.”

Stoller will return to action at the Division II district at Port Clinton on Thursday.

Softball

Paulding 4 Lincolnview 2

Paulding scored three runs in the top of the first inning and the Panthers went on to defeat Lincolnview 4-2 in the regular season finale for the Lancers on Saturday.

The Panthers opened the game with a pair of walks and a runner on due to an error, then a sacrifice fly by Mariah Klopfenstein scored Madison Clark. A two-out two-RBI single by Delaney Johanns scored Civil Pumphrey and Tia Mendez. A sacrifice fly by Lainey Spear in the bottom of the first scored Emme Stevens and made it 3-1, a score that stood until the top of the sixth, when Paulding’s Candence Schwab scored on a passed ball. Spear had a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh and Bella Hire followed up with a single, but Mendez retired the next three batters to preserve the win.

Mendez held the Lancers to three hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Spear gave up seven hits with four walks.

No. 2 seed Lincolnview (17-6) is scheduled to face No. 5 seed Coldwater in the Division VI district semifinals at Wapakoneta at 3:30 Tuesday.

Baseball

Lincolnview 14 Delphos St. John’s 4 (six innings)

Lincolnview trailed Delphos St. John’s 3-2 after two innings but it was all Lancers after that as they rallied for a 14-4 win over visiting Delphos St. John’s on Saturday.

VW Cougars compete at WBL track meet

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KENTON — The Western Buckeye League Track and Field Championships, held in Kenton last Wednesday and Friday showcased some of the top talent in northwest Ohio, and the Van Wert Cougars responded with numerous standout performances, personal records, and finals appearances on both the boys and girls sides.

Junior hurdler and sprinter Micah Cowan led the Cougar boys with one of the top performances in school history. Cowan finished runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 39.86, moving him to third all-time in Van Wert history in the event. 

Van Wert also received a huge effort from sophomore distance runner Evan Keuneke, who broke the two-minute barrier for the first time with a fifth-place finish in the 800 meters in 1:59.17. Harrison Sloan added a personal-best 4:47.45 in the 1600, while freshman Calvin Byrum recorded strong efforts in both the 1600 and 3200 meter races. Alexander Bauer placed eighth in the 3200 meters.

The Cougar boys also earned a fourth-place finish in the 4×800 relay as Keuneke, Quintin Parrish, Sloan, and Bauer combined for an 8:39.27 clocking.

In the field events, senior Nicholas Edwards Jr. recorded a personal-best throw of 41-8.5 in the shot put, while Roman Martin placed tenth in the long jump. Jayden White and Noah Hillery also contributed strong performances in the jumps and vaults.

As a team, the Cougars finished ninth. Ottawa-Glandorf won the team title and Ottawa-Glandorf was the runnerup.

On the girls side, freshman sprint standout Haven Hunt had an outstanding meet, finishing third in the 100 meters and fifth in the 200 meters while advancing to both finals. Senior Harper Roop also qualified for the 200-meter finals.

Van Wert’s girls distance squad continued its excellent season as Ruby Dicke placed fifth in the 800 meters with a personal-best time of 2:23.16, moving her to fifth all-time in school history in the event. Symphony Schuerman and Noelle Byrum both earned personal-best performances in the 1600 meters before coming back to place sixth and seventh respectively in the 3200 meters.

The Cougar girls relay teams were especially strong throughout the meet. The 4×400 relay team of Dicke, Roop, Leah Krites, and Hunt earned runner-up honors in 4:08.89, moving the quartet to fifth all-time in Van Wert history. The 4×200 relay team of Livie Parrish, Roop, Lily Greve, and Hunt placed fourth, while the girls 4×800 relay team also brought home a fourth-place finish.

Van Wert’s girls also shined in the field events. Freshman thrower Flannery Foster had an outstanding championship meet, placing third in the shot put and runner-up in the discus with personal-best marks in both events. Parrish was second in the high jump, while Greve also earned a medal-winning performance in the event.

Ottawa-Glandorf won the girls’ team championship with Celina finishing as the runner-up. Van Wert finished in a third place tie with Defiance.

With numerous personal records and several athletes continuing to climb the all-time Van Wert performance lists, the Cougars now turn their attention toward the OHSAA tournament trail with strong momentum heading into districts.

The Cougars will compete at the Division III district meet at Napoleon on Thursday and Saturday.

Local runners shine at NWC meet

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SPENCERVILLE — Columbus Grove swept the Northwest Conference Track and Field Championships, winning the boys’ and girls’ titles. Bluffton was the runner-up on both sides. Crestview finished fourth and Lincolnview sixth on the boys’ side, while the Lancers finished third and Lady Knights fifth on the girls side.

Crestview’s Lincoln Smith and Derek Young finished 1-2 in the 3200 meter run with times of 9:40.58 and 9:57.82 respectively. The 4×100 relay team of Drayden Hoffman, Brentyn Rodriguez, Braxton Leeth and Liam Putman finished first (44.28), and the same quartet won the 4×200 (1:32). The 4×400 relay team of Brentyn Rodriguez, Kale Vining, Leeth and Hayden Perrott also finished first with a time of 3:33.17. Hudson Perrott was the runner-up in the 1600 meter run (4:42.45).

Noah Peters led Lincolnview with second place finishes in the 110 meter hurdles (15.75) and 300 meter hurdles (40.34).

For the Crestview girls, the highest placers were the 4×100 and 4×200 meter teams of Graylie Grose, Delanie Balliet, Ellieannah Ward and Lydia Grace. They finished third in both events with times of 51.45 and 1:52.38.

Lincolnview’s Joey-Kate Carey was the long jump champion (15-07.50) and Brynleigh Moody finished second in the 1600 meter run (5:25.72).

Prep baseball: Cougars, Lancers fall

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Wayne Trace 9 Van Wert 6

Van Wert scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars fell to Wayne Trace 9-6 at Russell Fisher Field on Friday.

Two of the seventh inning runs came on a double by Wyatt Scott. Griffin McCracken, Easton Putman and Zach Scott each drove in a run against the Raiders. The Raiders led 6-1 after three innings.

The Cougars (11-12) will travel to Columbus Grove on Monday.

Ottawa-Glandorf 5 Lincolnview 1

OTTAWA — Titans pitcher Carson Yaeger gave up just one hit to Lincolnview, a double by Chayse Overholt in the seventh inning, and Ottawa-Glandorf defeated the Lancers 5-1 on Friday.

The Titans scored a run in the first, two in the second and two more in the third.

Lincolnview will host Delphos St. John’s today.

Prep recap: baseball, softball, tennis

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Baseball

Crestview 11 Shawnee 1 (six innings)

LIMA — Crestview jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back on the way to an 11-1 road win over Crestview on Thursday.

Owen Heckler held the Indians to just two hits over five innings with five strikeouts. Cash Hammons pitched the remaining inning and didn’t allow a hit. At the plate, Luke Sawmiller, Denver McDougall and Jace Wehner each had three hits. Wehner had a two-RBI double in the sixth inning, and Sawmiller drove in a run in the seventh, while McDougall had an RBI single in the second inning.

The Knights (6-10) are scheduled to travel to Perry today.

Lincolnview 2 Minster 0

MINSTER — Gavin Evans went the distance on the mound and held Minster to a pair of hits with nine strikeouts and five walks, and Lincolnview topped Minster 2-0 on Thursday.

Both of Lincolnview’s runs came in the first inning, when Chayse Overholt scored on a grounder by Seth Brant, and Holden Price scored on a passed ball.

The Lancers (17-3) are scheduled to play at Ottawa-Glandorf today.

Van Wert 6 Kalida 2

KALIDA — Van Wert trailed Kalida 3-1 after five innings but the Cougars rallied with three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh for a 6-3 win at Kalida on Thursday.

Griffin McCracken put Van Wert on the board when he scored on a passed ball in the third. Alex Benner scored on an error in the sixth, then Jace Huebner singled home Wyatt Scott to tie the game. A sacrifice fly by Finley Dickinson scored Brayson Davis, then in the seventh inning, Cam Werts blasted a two-run homer for the final margin.

Huebner, Dickinson and Blade Lowe combined to strike out five Wildcat batters, with five strikeouts.

Van Wert (11-11) is scheduled to play at Columbus Grove on Monday.

Softball

Defiance 11 Van Wert 0

Defiance shut out the Cougars 11-0 at Jubilee Park on Thursday. Meah Johnson had two of Van Wert’s seven hits.

Tennis

Zach Stoller recorded a pair of 6-0, 6-0 victories at the Division II sectionals to advance to the semifinals on Saturday. While no other Cougars advanced, head coach Mitch Price said he was pleased with the effort.

“Great effort by all of our guys today and we’re proud of the way everyone competed,” Price said.

VW independent recap: baseball, softball

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Baseball

Lincolnview 18 Columbus Grove 1 (five innings)

Holden Price went 4-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs, while Seth Brant and Gavin Evans each had three RBIs as Lincolnview hammered Columbus Grove 18-1 in five innings on Wednesday.

10 of Lincolnview’s runs were scored in the second inning, including runs with seven successive batters. Meanwhile, Chayse Overholt (three innings), Price and Brant (one inning each) combined to hold the Bulldogs to four hits while striking out four.

The Lancers (16-3, 7-0), outright NWC champions and conference champions for the sixth straight season, will travel to Minster on Thursday.

Van Wert 4 Ottawa-Glandorf 3

The Cougars scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning then held on to defeat Ottawa-Glandorf 4-3 on Wednesday. Wyatt Scott had a two-RBI single in the fourth. Griffin McCracken and Easton Putman each had two hits in the game. 

Van Wert (10-11, 3-6 WBL) are slated to travel to Columbus Grove on Monday.

Softball

St. Marys Memorial 8 Van Wert 2

ST. MARYS — No. 4 seed St. Marys Memorial held No. 5 seed Van Wert (11-8) to just two hits and the Roughriders topped the Cougars 8-2 in the Division IV sectional finals on Wednesday.

The Roughriders scored five of their runs in the first inning. Van Wert’s two runs came in the third, when Layla Sudduth singled home Grace Kitson and Addison Roehm.

Prep roundup: softball, baseball

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Sectional softball

Lincolnview 10 St. Henry 6

Second seeded Lincolnview built up a 9-1 lead then held on to defeat No. 8 seed St. Henry in the Division VI sectional championship game on Tuesday.

Five of Lincolnview’s runs came in the second inning, including a solo home run by Kassidy Hammons. Later in the inning with two outs, the Lancers scored on back-to-back errots by the Redskins, then Ila Hughes smacked a two-run homer that gave Lincolnview a 5-1 lead. In the third, Emme Stevens belted a two-RBI single to left, then Avery Hoaglin two-RBI double in the fourth gave the Lancers a 9-1 lead. St. Henry scored four runs in the fifth, including a three-run home run. The Redskins scored again in the top of the sixth but Lincolnview’s Bella Hire scored on a sacrifice fly by Makayla Marsee for the final margin.

Hammons finished with three hits and an RBI, while Hughes had two hits and two RBIs. Lainey Spear pitched the first five innings with four strikeouts, four walks and 10 hits. Hughes then pitched two innings of one-hit ball with five strikeouts.

Lincolnview (17-4) will play a regular season game at Antwerp today, then will host Paulding on Saturday. The next tournament game is the Division VI district semifinal against Coldwater at 3:30 p.m. next Tuesday at Wapakoneta.

Coldwater 10 Crestview 6

COLDWATER – No. 5 seed Coldwater scored nine runs in the third inning and the Cavaliers went on to defeat sixth seeded Crestview 10-6 in the Division VI championship game on Tuesday.

Eight of Coldwater’s 13 hits came in the third. Crestview scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, one on an RBI single by Violet Dirr. Dakota Thornell hit a two-RBI single in the fifth, then Thornell hammered a two-run homer to center field in the seventh. She finished with three hits and four RBIs, while Dirr had two hits and an RBI.

Crestview (7-15) will play a regular season game at Paulding on Thursday.

Baseball (regular season)

Crestview 9 Paulding 5

PAULDING — Five runs in the top of the fifth helped power Crestview to a 9-5 win over Paulding on Tuesday.

The game was tied 2-2 in the top of the fifth when Luke Sawmiller scored on a grounder by Denver McDougall. Huxley Grose then scored on a fly ball out by Zaine Cereghin, then a single by Evin Brincefield plated Owen Heckler. Brincefield was able to score on an RBI single by the next batter, Braxtyn Couts, which made it 7-2. Couts later scored on a passed ball. Paulding scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Knights added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Brincefield scored on an error and a Luke Sawmiller RBI single. Sawmiller earned the win with six strikeouts.

Random Thoughts: champs again, more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

Spring sports

It hardly seems possible, but the 2026 high school spring sports season is starting to wind down. It’s easily the most compact sports season when compared to fall and winter sports, but I suppose that has to be that way. Starting it earlier means even more battles against the weather and running at least the regular season longer after graduation would pose another set of problems.

Conference champs again

Lincolnview has already clinched at least a share of the NWC baseball championship and can win it outright with a victory over Columbus Grove on Wednesday.

It’s the sixth straight championship for the Lancers, whose record in NWC games during that span is 51-2. If you go back even further, from the 2018 season to the present, Lincolnview’s NWC record is 66-3.

Lincolnview’s softball program is enjoying a nice run as well. The Lancers haven’t lost a conference game since the 2023 season and have won three straight NWC championships. In addition, Lincolnview has won at least a share of five of the last six NWC softball championships. Going back to the 2021 season, the Lancers are 45-3 in NWC play.

Best of luck to both teams in their respective tournaments.

Shot clock

The Indiana High School Athletic Association has rejected a shot clock proposal, which in some ways surprises me.

Now there’s word that it may not be a sure thing in Ohio. OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute has been quoted as saying the organization is “not ready” to approve a shot clock. That’s very surprising to me. Honestly, I thought once the proposal was submitted by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association it would be more or less a formality that it was approved.

If you read this column with any regularity, you know I’m not a fan of a shot clock at the high school level. Why not? None of the arguments for it make sense to me.

It’ll make the game better? How exactly? If anything, it could widen the gap between truly good teams and average and struggling teams.

It’ll eliminate stall ball? Unless you’re of a certain age, I doubt you’ve seen true stall ball. In 36 years of covering high school basketball, I’ve seen actual stall ball in a game twice, back in the early to mid-90s. I’m not talking about trying to milk the final two minutes off the clock while holding a one point lead. That’s strategy.