By ROB HAMILTON

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Northmor opened their softball season with a sweep of host Crestline during a Saturday doubleheader.

The Knights took the first game by a 9-3 margin. After falling behind by a 3-0 margin after two innings, they scored two in the third and two more in the fourth to take a lead. They then added three insurance runs in the sixth and capped the game with two more scores in the final frame.

Shelbey Lilly struck out three and walked one, while surrendering eight hits. However, the Knights tallied nine hits of their own. Both Cristianna Boggs and Kaylee Carroll picked up doubles and both Deanna Delaney and Andrea Weis added a pair of singles.

“The girls were a little sluggish in the first couple of innings at the plate, but turned it around the rest of the game with some timely hitting,” said head coach Russ Montgomery. “I’m pretty pleased with the effort.”

The second game was a bit closer, as the Knights edged their hosts by a 5-3 margin. Northmor led by as much as a 4-0 margin in the top of the third from, but surrendered runs in the bottom of the third and in the sixth to see their lead cut in half. Both teams then scored once in the seventh to finish the contest with the Knights up by two.

Lilly, who picked up the win, and Delaney combined to surrender 16 hits, but limited the damage to three runs. They struck out two and walked one.

Northmor tallied their five runs on nine hits, with Lily Tate and Kelsey Fike both hitting a single and double and Lydia Farley adding a double. Boggs added two singles.

“This was a defensive game,” said Montgomery. “Both teams had runners in scoring position, but we just happened to score a couple more of those to win this one.”

Highland baseball

The Scot boys split a pair of games on Saturday, topping North Union before falling to Lexington.

In their 6-1 win over the Wildcats, Highland broke open a 2-1 advantage through five innings by scoring four in the sixth to open up a comfortable lead which they would hold. Max Schreiber picked up with win, striking out seven and only giving up two hits in going the distance.

Lexington would upend the Scots by a 6-3 margin in the second game of the day. The Minutemen scored four runs in the third inning and took advantage of five Highland miscues to pick up the decision in a game where they also took a 10-6 advantage in hits.

Conner Ulrey suffered the loss for Highland, with Mack Anglin and Justin Robinson also pitching for the team. Head coach Donnie Kline cited catcher Alex Wright’s work behind the plate as a bright spot for the team defensively.

Northmor baseball

The Northmor baseball team opened their season by splitting a pair of games with Crestline Saturday.

In the opener, the Knights lost a heartbreaker by a 7-6 score in nine innings. After finishing regulation tied at seven, the teams went to extras. Northmor scored two in the top of the ninth to take the lead, but surrendered three in the bottom of the frame, as the Bulldogs battled back for the win.

“It was a good ball game that could have gone either way,” said head coach Buck Workman. “Kudos to Crestline after going down two in the top of the ninth, but coming back with three to win it. We wasted too many opportunities early in this one.”

Bryan Hammond suffered the loss in relief. He and starter Jake Farley, who pitched the first seven innings, combined to strike out 14 and walk five, while giving up six hits. The Knights picked up nine hits, with Farley getting three singles and Gunnar Lilly added a double and single.

In the second game, Northmor won a wild one by a 15-11 margin. An eight-run fourth put Crestline in front 8-3 and they added a score in the fifth to take a six-run lead, but Northmor rallied with five in the sixth and seven more in the seventh and then held on in the bottom of the frame to earn the split.

Northmor won despite committing nine errors in the game. Farley, Nate Hall, Mostyn Evans and Sam Eichorn all tallied two hits. Hammond, Lilly and Evans combined to strike out four and walk five. Only two of Crestline’s runs were earned.

“It was very nice to see us battle back, down 8-3 with two outs and nobody on in the top of the sixth, to get this one, especially fate the way the opener went,” said Workman. “The boys showed a little resolve and hung in there.”

Rob Hamilton can be reached at 419-946-3010, ext. 1807. Connect with him on Twitter at @SportsMCS