They got great starting pitching from Jonah Jenkins (above). But for a second day timely hitting cost the Buckeyes a chance for a win, and a chance to compete for a series on Sunday. Saturday's latest late-inning letdown doomed them to a 3-2 loss to Maryland.
Troy's Owen Harlamert dropped a perfect bunt that allowed teammate Caleb Akins to score in the top of the 10th ... and the Trojans' pitching did the rest in the bottom of the inning for a key Miami Valley League victory on Friday night.
Minster's off-season bonding has helped the Wildcats' on-field success .... which continued with a 6-0 victory against St. Henry on Thursday. While Minster was making the most of six hits, including three for extra-bases, pitcher Brooklyn Olsterloh was striking out 14.
It's why so many people show up to watch a softball game. Wild and woolly, you never know what's going to happen. And Tipp proved it with a four-run comeback in the bottom of the eighth - pitcher Ella Henn (above) driving in the winning run - to beat Bethel.
They paid no attention to a pre-season rankings snub, and have since gone unbeaten in their first eight games. Braylon Cordonnier (above) and the Russia Raiders looked every bit the part of a defending state champion Tuesday in a 9-0 shutout win over Jackson Center.
