PDT Sports Report

The Clay Panthers took their fifth SOC I title in eight years when they defeated Notre Dame 5-0 Thursday afternoon.

“The kids have done an excellent job this year and improved a great deal,” Clay tennis coach Bob Hayes said. “They beat some really good teams this season.”

In No. 1 singles Andrew White of Clay defeated Notre Dame’s Luis Benitez 6-0, 3-6, 6-4.

“Drew White has been a real pleasure to have as a leader this season,” Hayes said.

The No. 2 singles match went to Clay’s Nick Harris as he defeated Notre Dame’s Weston Craig 6-4, 6-1 while the No. 3 singles match went to Linus Singer of Clay when he beat Notre Dame’s Emma Gohmann 7-6, 6-3.

“Nick and Linus have played really well this season and have been leading by example,” Hayes said.

The No. 1 doubles match featured Clay’s Mark Shaffer and Michael Schmidt defeating Notre Dame’s J.P. Kayser and Kevin Lewis 6-1, 6-7, 6-1.

In No. 2 doubles, Clay’s Eric Manninen and Eldin Sarajlic beat Notre Dame’s Michael Medley and Ty Hiles 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

The Panthers finish the regular season with a 9-3 overall record and an 8-3 record in the SOC I but their conference title was just the first of their goals.

“I would like to see us have a good SOC Tournament and then hopefully do well in sectionals and move someone on from there,” Hayes said.

Hayes also credited his four seniors Andrew White, Linus Singer, Nick Harris and Eric Manninen with providing leadership to the team’s four sophomores.

Clay will play in the SOC Tournament May 1 at either Shawnee State or Mound Park.

Valley 5, Jackson 0

Valley defeated Jackson 5-0 Thursday night to extend their flawless record to 14-0.

In No. 1 singles, Nick Johnson of Valley defeated Steve Dearth of Jackson 6-0, 6-0.

Scott Adkins of Valley beat Clay Wood of Jackson 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 2 singles match.

No. 3 singles went to Trevor High of Valley when he defeated Morgan Coyan of Jackson 6-0, 7-5.

In No. 1 doubles, Blake Yates and Adam Buckler of Valley beat Jackson’s Alec Osborne and Aaron Kirby 6-0, 6-0.

Caleb Andronis and Tyler Sherwood of Valley picked up the No. 2 doubles win with a 6-1, 6-2 final over Jackson’s Brady Reynolds and Patrick Dempsey.

Valley finishes its season at home today with a match against SOC rival West.

Baseball

Wheelersburg 3, Ironton 1

Wheelersburg took down Ironton 3-1 on the back of Austin Boyer’s two-run home run in the third inning.

‘Burg’s Wade Martin picked up the win to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Coming off his afternoon signing with Dayton, Austin Hall went 1-3 in the win.

Wheelersburg hosts Oak Hill today aiming to clinch the 2012 SOC II outright.

Ironton 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 5 1

Wheelersburg 0 0 2 0 1 0 x - 3 7 1

Ironton - S. Easterling 1-2 (2B), Lawless 1-3 (RBI), Roberts 1-3 (2B), Leach 1-3 (2B), Kellogg 1-3

Wheelersburg - Hood 1-3 (2B, 2 R), Boyer 2-4 (HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R), Hall 1-3, Shears 1-3 (RBI), Martin 2-3

W - Martin (3-0)

L - S. Easterling

Records - Ironton N/A, Wheelersburg 19-2

Fairland 11, Portsmouth 4

Portsmouth fell to Fairland 11-4 Thursday evening.

Brandon Wedebrook took the loss but also recorded two hits and scored a run.

Portsmouth will travel to Ashland (Ky.) Paul Blazer today.

Portsmouth 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 - 4 4 6

Fairland 2 2 0 3 1 3 x - 11 9 0

Portsmouth - Albrecht 1-4 (2B, 2 R), Wedebrook 2-4 (R), Gibson 1-4, Lattimore 0-2 (BB, R)

Fairland - Thacker 2-3 (HR), Riley 2-3 (2B), Warner 1-4, Ross 1-4, Aliff 2-3 (HR), Fuller 1-3

W - Ross

L - Wedebrook 1-3

Records - Portsmouth 4-14, Fairland N/A

Softball

Jackson 5, Minford 2

Jackson visited Minford Thursday evening and came away 5-2 winners.

Minford will play in the Thunder in the Valley Tournament today against Meigs.

Jackson 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 - 5 4 1

Minford 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 - 2 6 5

Jackson - Hughes 1-4, Jenkins 1-4 (RBI), Humphreys 2-2 (2 RBI)

Minford - Montavon 1-4, Conkey 1-4 (2B), Jacko 1-3 (RBI), Pennington 1-3, Johnson 1-3, Colley 1-3 (RBI)

W - Hughes

L - Conkey (7-7)

Records - Jackson N/A, Minford 8-9