Lady Pirates blast Wildcats, win NWC opener
By Cort Reynolds
DELPHOS - The visiting Bluffton softball team mustered a season-best offensive outburst to win its Northwest Conference opener handily 19-7 over Delphos Jefferson Thursday evening.
Bluffton improved to 1-5 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with their first win. Meanwhile, Delphos Jefferson dropped to 1-8 and 0-1 in NWC play with the lopsided loss.
The Wildcat girls led 4-0 after the first inning, but Bluffton tied it up with four runs in the top of the second frame. Kennedi Jordan (three-run homer) and Riley Busch slammed back-to-back home runs to account for the four-run rally.
The Pirates went ahead for good with a run in the third, 5-4. They extended the lead with two runs in each of the fourth and fifth frames, then tacked on three more runs in the sixth to lead by eight.
After going scoreless for four innings, DJ scored three times in the home half of the sixth to edge within 12-7.
But the Pirate girls put the game well out of reach with a seven-run output in the top of the seventh.
Lauren Swartzlander cracked a double and three singles with one RBI to help pace the Lady Pirate onslaught.
Busch legged out a triple, while Jordan drilled a double to go with her three-run blast. Sophie Bricker contributed two hits and a pair of runs batted in. Dyllan Worcester added two hits.
Rebekah Hoff collected two hits and a run batted in. Jasmine Whitlow also knocked out two hits and had an RBI. Ashley Fleece amassed two RBI on one hit.
Pirate pitcher Grace Myers earned her first win of the season.
Bluffton out-hit DJ with a season-high total of 21 hits to 10 by DJ. Six of the Pirate hits went for extra bases.
Wildcat Anna Fitch smacked four hits and drove in two runs to lead the DJ offense. Sisters Rileigh and Avery Rahrig each added two base hits.
123 456 7 R H E
Blf 041 223 7 19 21 1
DJ 400 003 0 7 10 6
WP-Myers (1-4) LP-K. Schroeder
2B-Swartzlander (B), Jordan (B), Whitlow (B)
3B-Busch (B)
HR-Jordan (B), Busch (B)
The Lady Pirates are slated to visit Liberty-Benton (3-4) in a non-league twinbill Saturday, April 10.
Bluffton then resumes NWC play Monday, April 12 by hosting local rival Ada (2-2, 0-1 NWC). The Bulldog girls lost their league lidlifter 9-8 in extra innings to Columbus Grove Thursday.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, April 25, 2025
Thursday, April 24, 2025
- Blanchard Valley Health Foundation welcomes Sapp as Chief Development Officer
- LEO Club invitation to 5K and 1-mile walk & stroll
- Memorial bench and tree planting at Village Arboretum
- Bluffton Beavers sports roundup, April 16-22
- Pirate baseball loss vs. Fort Jennings
- Alan Garmatter is new CNB Chief Credit Officer
- Parks & Recreation Committee meets April 25
- Bad Dreams: Health implications
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Monday, April 21, 2025
- ONU theater students give voice to the Ukrainian people
- Permits will be needed for overnight parking on Spring St.
- April 26 Easter for Kids event
- Anabaptist choral concert on April 27
- April 23 landscaping night at the Bluffton Sportsmen's Club-LE&W Depot
- Upcoming BPL events, April 21-26
- Marc Augsburger is 2025 Outstanding Alumni from Rhodes State College
- Pirate girls win O-G Gold track meet, Bluffton boys 2nd