VW independent sports/submitted information
DELPHOS — The Lancer track teams competed at the Delphos St. John’s Invitational on Saturday and both teams came away with championship trophies. The boys scored 183 points with Delphos St. John’s nearly 100 points behind them. The girls scored 172 points, beating host St John;s by nearly 40 points.
“It was great meet for us, especially given that it was our 4th meet in 6 days,” Lincolnview head coach Matt Langdon said. “The kids really responded despite being a bit worn down from the week. We have a couple of meets this week and then we get to take a breath before NWC and state tournament arrives.”
“I love the focus and fight of this team and their attention to detail,” he added. “They have been a joy to coach.”
Top 2 finishers for the boys:
Steven Smith second in both the shot put and the discus
Cody Ricker second in the long jump, 110 hurdles, and 300 hurdles
Kaleb Denman first in the pole vault
Alex Hefner second in the pole vault
Kordane Thomas second in the 100m dash
Conner Baldauf first in the 400 and second in the 800m run
Kreston Tow first in both the 800m run and the 1600m run
Maddox Norton first in the 3200m run
Trace Klausing second in the 400m dash
Evan Johns second in the 1600m run
4×200 relay first (Tyler Spray, Kaleb Denman, Trace Klausing, and Kordane Thomas)
4×400 relay first (Kreston Tow, Evan Johns, Trace Klausing, and Conner Baldauf)
4×800 relay first (Maddox Norton, Zander Coil, Kale Kundert, and Evan Johns)
Mixed relay first (Lindsey Hatcher, Harper Reindel, Cody Ricker, and Conner Baldauf)
Top 2 finishers for the girls:
Beth Hughes first in the shot put
Ella Elling first in the discus and second in the shot put
Jayden Bragg second In the discus
Kara Suever second in the high jump
Sydney King first in the pole vault
Saige Menke second in the pole vault
Brynleigh Moody first in the 800m run and 400m dash, second in the 1600m run
Kendall Hoffman first in the 1600m run
Brooklyn Byrne second in the 800m run
4×800 relay first (Brooklyn Byrne, Ava Milligan, Kendall Hoffman, and Brynleigh Moody)
POSTED: 04/23/24 at 12:41 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Softball
Van Wert 15 Ottoville 1 (five innings)
Kaitlyn Beair had quite a day for Van Wert. Beair had three hits, including two doubles, four RBI, scored a run and on the mound, held Ottoville to just three hits with seven strikeouts, as the Cougars defeated Ottoville 15-1 in five innings on Monday. It was the first win for Van Wert this season.
Emma Haines had three hits, an RBI and scored four runs and Emma Kennedy finished with a pair of hits and three runs scored. Katie DeAmicis had two hits and an RBI in the win. Van Wert set the tone early by scoring three runs in the first inning, then five more in the second and five in the third.
Van Wert is scheduled to host St. Marys Memorial today.
Lincolnview 7 Columbus Grove 2
Ashlyn Price homered and tripled and drove in two runs to lead No. 8 Lincolnview to a 7-2 home win over Columbus Grove on Monday. Taylor Post pitched all seven innings and allowed five hits while striking out 11.
Lincolnview (10-1) will play at Bluffton on Thursday.
Baseball
Lincolnview 11 Columbus Grove 1 (five innings)
Freshman Seth Brant went 3-3 at the plate and Austin Bockrath added two hits to help Lincolnview to a five inning, 11-1 win over Columbus Grove yesterday.
The Lancers are scheduled to host Lima Central Catholic today.
Crestview 5 Allen East 4 (eight innings)
CONVOY – The Knights improved to 8-1 with an eight inning, 5-4 win over Allen East on Monday.
Zaine Cereghin had two hits and two RBI, including the game winner.
Crestview will host Delphos Jefferson on Thursday.
Tennis
Van Wert 5 Defiance 0
The Cougars enjoyed their second straight 5-0 victory, this time over Defiance on Monday. The victory evened Van Wert’s record at 5-5 (3-3 WBL).
At first singles, Keaton Foster defeated Jackson Honsberger 6-2, 6-4, while Aaron Reichert won at second singles, 6-0, 6-3 over Carmine Castaneda. At third singles, Jaymison Moynihan cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Reese Fredrick. The first doubles team of Caleb Bledsoe and Devon Story topped Nate Herod and Aden Hill 6-2, 6-3, and the second doubles team of Fletcher Smith and Kaedyn Swander beat Darwing Chavez and Noah Hohenbrink 6-0, 6-3.
“Another 5-0 win feels great, especially against a league opponent,” head coach Eli Alvarez said. “We have a busy week ahead of us and this is a great start to it.”
Van Wert is scheduled to play at Ottawa-Glandorf today.
POSTED: 04/23/24 at 5:24 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
The latest installment of Random Thoughts centers around a record setting performance, a new hoops coach, several new hoops coaches, Lincolnview softball and UM football.
Owen Scott
Congratulations to Van Wert High School distance runner Owen Scott for setting a new school record in the 3200 meter run.
Scott s time of 9:37.79 at last week’s Ottawa-Glandorf Gold Medal Meet broke the previous record held by Jared Fleming. Something tells me Scott may top his own record before the season is over and since he’s just a junior, it won t be at all surprising if it tops it more than once next season.
Best
Excitement is high over the announcement that former Crestview basketball coach Jeremy Best will take over Van Wert’s boys basketball program. It still needs approval by the school board but that s just a formality. A vote is expected at tomorrow’s meeting.
WBL hoops
The hiring of Best fills one of five WBL boys basketball vacancies, so literally, half of the league will have new head coaches next year.
Dre White has been hired at Bath. I believe there are still openings at Elida, St. Marys Memorial and Kenton. You may need a program just to keep the new coaches straight this winter.
Softball
Don’t look now, but Lincolnview is 10-1 and the Lancers appear to have picked up right where they left off the previous couple of seasons. There’s no shortage of hitters and pitching is becoming a strength as well. This could be a very fun team to watch at tournament time.
Michigan
For those who thought Michigan s football program would receive more severe sanctions from the NCAA, here’s some food for thought.
(more…)POSTED: 04/23/24 at 5:23 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Baseball
Van Wert 5 Delphos St. John’s 2
DELPHOS — Briston Wise gave up four hits over five innings to lead Van Wert to a 5-2 win over Delphos St. John’s on Saturday. Wise struck out three and walked three, while Sam Houg pitched the remaining two innings and didn’t allow a hit while striking out one and walking one.
At the plate, Kaden Shaffer, Hayden Davis and Houg each had two hits, while Brylen Parker tripled in the sixth inning and drove in two runs. Davis, Houg and Nate Gearhart each had an RBI.
Van Wert (4-6) will play at St. Marys Memorial on Tuesday.
Lincolnview 17 Fort Recovery 9
FORT RECOVERY — Chayse Overholt hit four hits and two RBI, Jack Dunlap had three hits and three RBI and Lincolnview outscored Fort Recovery 17-9 on Saturday.
10 of Lincolnview’s runs came in the top of the sixth inning, including a two-RBI double by Austin Bockrath, RBI singles by Dunap, Aiden Hardesty, Overholt and Cal Evans.
Lincolnview (9-3) will host Columbus Grove today.
Softball
Lincolnview 10 Hicksville 0
Lincolnview 9 Hicksville 4
HICKSVILLE — Lincolnview swept Saturday’s doubleheader against Hicksville, winning 10-0 and 9-4.
In the first game, Ashlyn Price and Lainey Spear each had three hits, with one of Spear’s hits a round-tripper, while Taylor Post had a pair of hits. The Lancers took advantage of five Hicksville errors. In the second game, the Lancers scored five runs in the third and pulled away for a 9-4 win. Addysen Stevens had two hits and Allie Miller and Grace Brickner each drove in two runs. Sydney Fackler struck out seven in five innings.
Licnolnview will host Columbus Grove today.
POSTED: 04/21/24 at 9:04 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
After suffering back-to-back 3-2 losses, the Cougar tennis team got back on the winning track with a 5-0 home win over Napoleon on Saturday. Singles winners were Keaton Foster, Aaron Reichert and Jaymison Moynihan and doubles winners were Caleb Bledsoe/Devon Story and Fletcher Smith/Kaedyn Swander. Van Wert has four matches scheduled this week, starting with Defiance at home today. Photo submitted
POSTED: 04/21/24 at 9:03 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Tennis
St. Marys Memorial 3 Van Wert 2
Van Wert picked up wins at second and third singles but the Cougars fell to St. Marys Memorial 3-2 on Friday.
Aaron Reichert rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Rhett Chisholm at second singles and Jaymison Moynihan topped Mateo Rodero 6-4, 6-4. St. Marys picked up wins at first singles, as Cody Birt defeated Keaton Foster 6-2, 6-3; first doubles, with Jake Ackroyd and Jaxton Spees downed Caleb Bledsoe and Kaedyn Swander 6-2, 6-1, while Ollie Chisholm and Noah White defeated Fletcher Smith and Keaton Sudduth 6-0, 6-3.
The Cougars (3-5, 2-3 WBL) will host Napoleon today.
Baseball
Minster 18 Crestview 0
CONVOY — A two-hitter and a late explosion of runs propelled No. 8 Minster to an 18-0 win over previously undefeated Crestview on Friday.
Leading 5-0 entering the sixth inning, the Wildcats (11-1) scored four runs, then added nine more in the seventh. Crestview’s lone hits came off the bats of Bryson Penix and Huxley Grose. The Knights were hampered by six errors in the game.
Crestview will host Allen East on Monday.
Lincolnview 3 Marion Local 1
Holden Price, Jack Dunlap and Myles Moody each had two hits and Lincolnview defeated Marion Local 3-1 on Friday. Chayse Overholt earned the win on the mound and Dunlap picked up the save.
The Lancers will play at Fort Recovery today.
Softball
Wapakoneta 7 Van Wert 2
WAPAKONETA — Van Wert scored a pair of runs in the first but Wapakoneta responded with seven unanswered runs in a 7-2 victory.
Emma Haines doubled in Alexis Pangle, then Haines scored on a grounder by Kaitlyn Beair. Three of Van Wert’s four hits were extra base hits – doubles by Aubrey Wollet and Haines and a triple by Pangle.
Van Wert will host Ottoville on Monday.
Minster 19 Crestview 2 (five innings)
MINSTER — No. 2 Minster was too much for Crestview, as the Wildcats defeated the Lady Knights 19-2 in five innings on Friday.
Crestview (4-8) will host Antwerp today.
POSTED: 04/19/24 at 9:22 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Crestview’s Adessa Alvarez has signed a letter of intent to play soccer at NAIA St Francis (IN). Photo submitted
POSTED: 04/19/24 at 9:22 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
The Van Wert Athletic Department has announced that Jeremy Best, a two-time state championship coach, is set to become the head boys basketball coach at Van Wert High School, subject to board approval. The Van Wert Board of Education is expected to vote on Wednesday, April 24.
He’s replacing Ben Laudick, who stepped down after five seasons as head coach.
Best has an impressive 17-year tenure leading the Crestview Knights boys basketball team with a record of 291-110. During this time, he has secured two state championships in 2014 and 2019), a state runner-up trophy in 2003, six Northwest Conference titles, as well as 10 sectional, four district, and three regional championships. In addition, Coach Best has been honored as the NWC Coach of the Year five times, District 8 Coach of the Year twice, and State Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year twice.
He stepped down after the 2019 Division IV state championship season and has served as an assistant to Mark Gregory on the Crestview girls basketball team.
“We are thrilled to introduce Coach Best as the new boys varsity basketball coach at Van Wert High School,” Van Wert Athletic Director Trent Temple. “His track record as a successful leader speaks for itself, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact he will bring to our program and the bright future that lies ahead.”
POSTED: 04/19/24 at 1:00 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Softball
Lincolnview 16 Spencerville 0 (five innings)
SPENCERVILLE – Taylor Post, Sydney Fackler and Emma Bowersock combined to toss a no-hitter and Lincolnview defeated Spencerville 16-0 in five innings on Thursday.
Post pitched the first two innings and fanned two, Fackler pitched an inning and struck out two and walked one, and Bowersock covered the remaining two innings and struck out four.
At the plate, Lainey Spear cracked a three run home run in the second inning, and Sylvia Longstreth drove in three runs. Fackler had three hits and scored three runs and Addysen Stevens enjoyed a three hit day and scored a pair of runs. The Lancers scored six runs in the first and eight more in the second.
Spencerville (3-8, 1-4 NWC) will host Kalida today and Lincolnview (7-1) will travel to Hicksville (7-1, 1-0 NWC) on Saturday.
Delphos Jefferson 5 Van Wert 3
Delphos Jefferson scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh and the Wildcats defeated Van Wert 5-3 at Jubilee Park on Thursday.
After Carolyn Mueller singled to open the final frame, Isabela Basinger tripled in Mueller, then two batters later, Basinger scored on a grounder by Dixie Richards.
Van Wert’s first run came in the second, when Katie DeAmicis doubled in Isabella Wise. Kailey Blythe doubled home Aubrey Wollet in the fourth and Emma Kennedy singled and scored Emma Haines in the fifth. Kaitlyn Beair struck out 11 Delphos Jefferson batters.
Both teams are back in action today. Van Wert (0-8) will travel to Wapakoneta today and Delphos Jefferson (10-4) will host Continental.
Crestview 8 Bluffton 4
BLUFFTON — Crestview had 11 hits, including a two-run home run by Dakota Thornell, and the Lady Knights defeated Bluffton 8-4 on Thursday.
Kaci Gregory had two hits, including a double, and Kaylee Mollenkopf, Violet Dirr and Zoey Miller each had a pair of hits. Katie Sawmiller earned the win on the mound.
Crestview (4-7) will play at Minster today.
Baseball
Crestview 2 Bluffton 0
BLUFFTON — Crestview scored on an error and a sacrifice fly and the Knights improved to 7-0 (2-0 NWC) with a 2-0 win over Bluffton on Thursday.
(more…)POSTED: 04/19/24 at 3:42 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
During a tri-meet with Ottawa-Glandorf and Wapakoneta on Tuesday, Van Wert junior Sophie Gearhart tied the school record in the pole vault, 8-06. Photo submitted
POSTED: 04/18/24 at 3:52 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
