Local baseball on a roll
Staff report
Madison County baseball and softball teams had an outstanding weekend for the most part.
Shekinah Christian sweeps Grandview
The Flames baseball team took two from visiting Grandview on Saturday.
In the opener, the Flames prevailed, 9-3. In the nightcap, they won, 10-0, in five innings to improve to 3-1 on the season.
In game one, Justin Helmuth collected two hits; Michael Gingerich had three hits; and Cody Helmuth had two hits.
Gingerich pitched six innings to earn the victory.
In game two, Trevor Thomas and Keith Crane both had two hits, while Justin Helmuth earned the win.
“We played well in both games,” Flames coach Rod Yoder said. “We got good pitching.”
London improves to 5-0 with two wins
The Red Raider baseball team hit the road Saturday and took two from Division I Central Crossing.
In the opener, London prevailed, 5-2. The Red Raiders won the second game, 7-6, with a run in the top of the seventh.
Bexley tops West Jefferson
BEXLEY — The West Jefferson baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader Saturday at Bexley.
The Roughriders (3-3) lost, 8-5, and 11-1. The second game went six innings.
Softball
London splits two Saturday
BEXLEY — After dropping the first game Saturday, 7-4, to Whetstone at Bexley High School, the Red Raider softball team rebounded in a big way to clobber Bexley, 19-4.
In the second game, Rachel Long led the offensive attack with four singles and a home run.
Also for London, Megan Long had four singles and a double; Shannon Merkle collected two doubles and a single; Desaree Long had two singles; Lauren Miller had a single and a double; Alicia Baldwin hit two singles; and Makayla Juergons had a double and a single.
West Jefferson takes two
The West Jefferson softball team improved to 4-1 on the year with wins over Centennial and Amanda-Clearcreek on Saturday.
The Roughriders topped the Stars, 11-2, and then the Aces, 5-0.
In the Amanda game, Brynna Cahill and Shylee Gray went 3-for-4 at the plate and Josie Hume was 2-for-2.
Cahill struck out 13 batters.
In the Centennial game, West Jeff hit the ball well all the way through the line-up. Gray and Taylor Bowman both went 2-for-3, while Allison Haskins, Kelsey Schneider and Leanna Henry were 2-for-4 at the plate.
Cahill had 14 strikeouts.
“We are hitting the ball real well,” West Jeff coach Jim Stevens said. “We need to improve on eliminating our errors.
“We are building ourselves into solid ball team. I keep telling the girls the season is a marathon and we need to peak at the end in the tournament when it is needed.”
Jonathan Alder splits on Saturday
LAKEWOOD — The Jonathan Alder softball team is 4-2 on the year after a split Saturday at Lakewood.
The Pioneers won 9-0 as Stephanie Hinch threw a three-hitter and lost 8-6, giving up 16 hits.
