ROSS CLINCHES 24th STRAIGHT LEAGUE TITLE: The Rams defeated the Talawanda Braves 4-3 on Wednesday to clinch the Fort Ancient Valley Conference Scarlet Division championship outright, their 24th consecutive FAVC title. Winning pitcher Brittany Fernandez struck out seven and also went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Other leading hitters for Ross (9-6, 8-0 FAVC) were Vic Meyer and Shelby Richards, both 1-for-3 with a run scored, and Molly Ann Harris, 1-for-3. Talawanda pitcher Caitlyn Calhoun allowed four runs in the first inning but held Ross scoreless the rest of the way and struck out 10. Leading hitters for the Braves were Amalia Stevens, 2-for-3; Kayla Howard, a hit, RBI and stolen base; and Ashlie Villarreal and Kori Michael, each with an RBI single.
EDGEWOOD 17, NORWOOD 5: The Cougars improved to 9-9, 4-4 in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference Scarlet Division, on Wednesday and were led on offense by Maddie Slusher, 3-for-4; winning pitcher Kaysie Hall, 3-for-5; Bree Williams, 2-for-2; and Emily Sherlock, 2-for-3.
HAMILTON 9, OAK HILLS 2: The Big Blue improved to 6-8 overall, 5-6 in the Greater Miami Conference, on Wednesday behind the hitting of Brooke Bryant, 2-for-3 with a double; Haleigh Daniels, 2-for-3; Amy Fritz, 2-for-4; and Erin Noga, a double. Oak Hills slipped to 4-8, 3-7 GMC.
CHAMINADE JULIENNE 1, BADIN 0: The Rams were held to one hit, by Katelyn Moss, in Wednesday’s Girls Greater Cincinnati League game. Badin pitcher Anna Weber allowed only one unearned run. The Rams fell to 7-9 overall.
BASEBALL
HAMILTON 2, OAK HILLS 1: The Big Blue recorded their third straight victory when Joey Lambertson drove in the winning run with a one-out, bases-loaded single in the top of the eighth inning in a Greater Miami Conference game on Wednesday. Jason Link, who went 2-for-4 for Hamilton and scored the winning run, had led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a walk and went to third on a pinch-hit single up the middle by Scott Geisz. Dillon Kellum was the winning pitcher, throwing a perfect eighth after relieving Brandon Turner, who allowed only one run over the first seven innings. Blake Castator went 1-for-3 with an RBI for the Big Blue, who improved to 10-6 overall, 7-4 in the GMC. Oak Hills fell to 10-6, 7-4 GMC.
BADIN 8, LA SALLE 6: The Rams scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning and held on to win their Greater Catholic League game Wednesday. Winning pitcher Nick Burrus hurled 5 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and Scott Purcell struck out four straight to record the save. Hitting leaders for Badin were Burrus, 2-for-4 with two runs scored; Jeff Smith, a two-run double, three RBIs and two runs; T.J. Nichting, 1-for-3 with an RBI; Alex Rieman, 1-for-3 with three RBIs; Nate Snellgrove, 2-for-3 with an RBI; Michael Guidugli, 2-for-3; and Luke Wurzelbacher, 2-for-2 with a double and two runs. Badin ran its record to 13-4 overall, 7-2 in the GCL Central Division. La Salle fell to 12-3, 4-2 GCL South. On Tuesday, John Gattermeyer pitched a shutout, his second straight complete game, as Badin beat Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy 2-0. Hitting leaders for the Rams were Burrus, 2-for-2 with a stolen base; and Nichting, 1-for-2 with an RBI.
NEW MIAMI 6, LOCKLAND 5: Kyle Romans and Jacob Lewis each had two hits for the Vikings in their Miami Valley Conference game on Wednesday, and Jake Davis and winning pitcher Casey Chestnut each doubled. New Miami ran its record to 10-5 overall, 6-1 in the MVC.
EDGEWOOD 7, NORWOOD 5: The Cougars improved to 5-10 overall, 2-6 in the FAVC, on Wednesday behind the hitting of Jared Smith, 2-for-4 with a double; John Cornett, 1-for-2 with four RBIs; and Keenan Carter, 2-for-4 with an RBI.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
BADIN 3, PRINCETON 1: The Rams (1-8) won 25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 25-23 in a match played Wednesday. Badin’s leading players were Martin Shelton, 12 kills, four blocks and two aces; Colin Martin, 10 kills and five blocks; and Johan Rydin, 14 kills.
LAKOTA WEST 3, SYCAMORE 1: The Firebirds improved to 8-0 overall, 5-0 in the Greater Miami Conference, on Wednesday behind the play of Dylan Kembre, 14 kills, and Dallas Kaiser, 20 assists. Sycamore slipped to 9-4, 4-2 in the GMC.
ROGER BACON 3, EDGEWOOD 1: The Cougars (5-7) were led in Wednesday’s match by Zach Kennedy, serving; Brian Knapp, passing; and Matt Landis, net play.
FAIRFIELD 3, FENWICK 0: The Indians (8-4) won 25-10, 25-5, 25-22 behind the play of Logan Brooks, 34 assists; Cameron Terrell, nine kills and seven digs; Tm Hudson, eight kills; and Rob Stansell, five kills and two aces. Fenwick fell to 4-5.