Miller throws no-hitter on opening day

By GREGG RETTIG

Managing Editor

DELAWARE — It’s hard to imagine a better start to the 2012 softball season.

Jonathan Alder took two from host Buckeye Valley on Saturday. The Pioneers prevailed, 14-0, in the second game as junior Natalie Squires tossed a no-hitter.

Alder (2-0) pounded out 17 hits in the second game after collecting 10 in an 8-6 game-one victory.

Morgan Thobe was 6-for-6 on the day, while Sadie Moser homered with one on in the opener.

“I guess all of those extra hours of batting practice pay off,” Alder coach Dave McGrew said.

Squires was in control the whole way in the second game. She faced just 16 batters, walked two and struck out two.

“She was a bundle of nerves at the start of the day,” her coach said. “Once she settled down, though, she was lights out.”

Madison-Plains 11, London 4

The Madison-Plains softball team got its South Central Ohio League season off to a good start, topping rival London on Monday night.

The Golden Eagles plated four runs in the first inning and five more in the sixth inning en route to collecting 12 hits.

Emily Blosser was 3-for-5, while Abby Oravec was 2-for-4 and Madison Betz was 2-for-4.

“We hit much better tonight than we did Saturday,” Madison-Plains coach Kevin Stockham said. “It was nice to start the SCOL with a win and it was nice to get a win against London since we’re big rivals.”

The Red Raiders, playing their first game of the season, pulled to within 4-3 after Lauren Miller crushed a three-run home run in the second inning to leftcenter field.

“(Madison-Plains pitcher) Jess Meade had that one bad inning, but I thought she threw pretty well tonight,” Stockham said.

• The host Madison-Plains softball team had a difficult day at the plate on Saturday, collecting just seven hits all told while dropping both ends of a season-opening doubleheader.

Briggs (2-0) topped the Golden Eagles, 2-0, and 10-2.

Bloom-Carroll 12, West Jefferson 0

CARROLL — The West Jefferson softball team struggled defensively Monday night in its opener.

The Roughriders committed eight errors.

“This game was not a reflection of the kind of team we’re going to have,” West Jeff coach Jim Stevens said. “It was our first game out of the box, although we did look good in our three scrimmages. We’ll come back. We’ll be all right.”

Baseball

Licking Valley 4, Jonathan Alder 1

The Jonathan Alder baseball team surrendered just two hits but lost its 2012 opener to visiting Licking Valley on Monday.

The Pioneers (0-1) committed four errors as Licking Valley plated three runs in the top of the seventh inning.

West Jefferson 11, Urbana 6

Nick Ewalt pitched a complete game as the Roughriders opened the 2012 season with a victory.

London 11, Fairbanks 1

The London baseball team opened the 2012 season by run-ruling visiting Fairbanks in six innings.

“It was a good way for us to open the season,” Red Raiders coach Jimmy Wolverton said.

On the mound, Zac Carey pitched the four and two-thirds, giving up just one hit.

At the plate, Jake Burns was 2-for-4 with two RBI; Kyle Fisher was 2-for-4 with a RBI and Sully Minner was 2-for-5 with two RBI.