The Versailles Republican Sports
April 17, 2008

SR Raider varsity baseball team defeats SC Pacers 10-4, then JCD Eagles 13-3

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer
Raiders vs Pacers
Raiders
Coach Rodney Hite and his Raider pack won their first conference baseball game of the season, 10-4, over the SC Pacers on Monday, April 7, at Vevay.
Raider senior, BJ Sieverding, was the winning pitcher. Through 5 innings of action, he gave up 1 hit, 4 walks, 2 earned runs and collected 9 K's.
Senior Nick Grider came on in relief, hurling for one inning, where he gave up 3 hits, 2 earned runs and a walk.
Brian Thomas closed out the game for the Raiders, giving up 2 hits and walked one.
Coach Hite noted, "Offensively, we looked ok tonight." Brian Thomas went 1/1 with a double, and scored 3 runs off 3 walks. Andy Miller reached twice on an error and a HBP. BJ Sieverding's five trips to the plate resulted in 1 for 2 hitting with 3 walks including a run scored. Thomas Welch went 1/3 while drawing a pair of walks to score two runs, picking up an RBI on one of the walks. Senior Kyle Patrick went 1 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Blake Richmond was 1 for 2 with an RBI off a single, reached on an error and a walk. Seth Leonard hit 1/3 with a FC RBI, double and HBP walk to force in a run. Tyler Landwehr batted 1 for 3.
Senior Nick Grider reached on an error scoring two RBI's and brother Chase was 1/3, including a single with an RBI and a run scoring while reaching on an error.
Early season suspensions are behind the Raiders and they are looking forward to seeing a regular rotation of the lineup come together. The younger players have stepped up and the older players have led the way. Hite added, We played small ball tonight, moving some base runners and laying down some well timed bunts. We put the pressure on the defense and it worked with SC scoring 5 errors. The Raiders look forward to some good weather and a great season. We appreciate the loyal fan support."
JV innings were hoped for at SC but were unable to accomodate due to SC suspensions and injuries.
"As we continue to see the field more I feel we will only get better. I look forward to the upcoming season. I would like to say a great big "Thanks" to all the parents who came to help work on the fields as our fence is going up. It looks wonderful and the players and coaches appreciate everything you do", concluded Coach Hite.

Raiders vs Eagles
Raiders
The Raiders continued to have fence issues with the weather detaining its completion, forcing the scheduled home game at SR to be played at JCD on Wednesday, April 9.
The Raider varsity advanced their conference record to 2-0 with the 13-3 win at JCD, however, the JCD Eagle JV claimed the victory over the Raiders 7-6.
Senior Raider Russ Steinhauer was the winning pitcher, with senior classmate Kyle Patrick earning the save.
Steinhauer pitching stats over 5 innings: facing 23 batters, gave up 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), collected 5 K's for a 2.80 ERA.
Steinhauer offensively went 1 for 4 with a triple, a walk, and 2 runs, 2 RBI's and a stolen base.
Brian Thomas was also 1/4, scoring a run drawing a walk and an RBI.
Senior Jerad Keck went 4/4 and reached on an error, scored a run, an RBI and a stolen base.
Senior BJ Sieverding went 2/4 with a walk, scored 2 runs and a stolen base.
Thomas Welch went 1/3 with a 2 run Homer and a walk, and reached on an error, scoring 3 runs.
Blake Richmond went 2/4 plus a walk, including a 3 RBI double.
Senior Kyle Patrick was 3/5 with one run scored, an RBI, a double and a single.
Andy Miller was 1/3 with a walk, reached on an error and scored a run.
Chase Grider was 0/3 and reached on an error.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO
Raider Welch erupts for the homer
South Ripley Raider, Thomas Welch, is met by congratulatory teamates and coaches following his well hit drive over the fence during the SR vs JCD varsity baseball game at JCDHS on Wednesday, April 9. The Raiders won the game by a final score of 13-3. At center, Eagle catcher Andrew Huff, was not entertained by the event.

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SR Lady Raider varsity play host to JCD Lady Eagles

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer
The first spring meeting of the varsity softball teams of South Ripley and Jac-Cen-Del took place at Ohio Rod on Wednesday, April 9. The conditions were less than great, but far better than anything this season has had to offer in the form of weather conditions thus far.
Breezy and somewhat damp, but very playable, so play they did. The Lady Eagles captured a lead in the top of the first inning on an errant play by the Lady Raiders , Lady Eagle Valorie Wagner took advantage, racing home for the score.
The Lady Raiders captured their first lead in the game in the bottom of the first, scoring twice, for a 2-1 edge heading into the second inning.
The Lady Eagles scored two in the top of the second and three in the top of the third, while holding the Lady Raiders at bay for a 6-0 lead after three full innings of play.
Neither team could muster a run through the following two innings, but JCD landed three more in the top of the sixth to go up 9-2. They held the Lady Raiders in the bottom of the sixth and neither team could move the score in the seventh, thus ending the game 9-2 with JCD the victors.
Lady Eagle Offence
Becca Wagner @ 2/4 with 3 RBI's.
Regina Ricke @ 1/3 with an RBI.
Valorie Wagner @ 2/4 with an RBI.
Ciara Bonnlander @ 0/4 with an RBI.
Kiersten Young @ 2/4.
Kaylin Ploeger @ 2/4 with a K.
Carissa Simon @ 3/3 with an RBI.
Kristen Hicks @ 1/4 with 2 RBI's.
Janine Huff @ 1/4
Pitcher of record for the Lady Eagles was senior Kaylin Ploeger with a 2.0 ERA. Over the seven innings pitched, Ploeger faced 28 Lady Raider batters, allowed 4 hits and 2 earned runs, while walking one, striking out four and hitting one batter with a pitch.
JCD Lady Eagles fall to Greensburg Lady Pirates
The Lady Eagle varsity met with their first softball season loss at Greensburg on Friday, April 11.
The Lady Eagles rallied to a 2-0 start in the top of the first inning of the game, and added a run in the top of the fourth to go up 3-0.
The Lady Pirates shifted gears in the bottom half of the fifth inning, delivering 5 runs before the Lady Eagles could get them out of the inning.
Trailing 5-3, the Lady Eagles got busy at the plate and produced three runs to regain the lead at 6-5, but it would only be momentary, as the Lady Pirates added a pair in the botom of the sixth to go up 7-6.
Unable to add a run in the top of the seventh inning, the Lady Eagles fell by a final score of 6-7 Greensburg.
The Lady Eagles produced 6 runs off 9 hits, committed 5 charged errors and left 8 runners on base, while the Lady Pirates scored 7 runs off 7 hits, were charged with 2 errors and left 5 runners on base.
Lady Eagle Offense
Becca Wagner @ 2/3 with 3 RBI's.
Regina Ricke @ 0/4.
Valorie Wagner @ 3/3 with HP.
Ciara Bonnlander @ 0/2with a K.
Danielle Wagner @ 1/2 incl 2B.
Kiersten Young @ 1/3 incl. 3B.
Kaylin Ploeger @ 0/4 with an RBI.
Carissa Simon @ 0/4 with 2 K's.
Tasha Krieg 0/1 with 2 RBI's.
Kristen Hicks @ 2/4 with 1 RBI.
Janine Huff @ 0/4 with an RBI.
Pitching and charged with the Lady Eagle loss was Regina Ricke with a 4.941 ERA. Ricke pitched 5 2/3 innings, facing 33 batters, where she gave up 4 earned ofthe 7 runs charged with, 4 errors, 5 walks and collected 4 K's.
In her 1 1/3 innings in relief, senior Kaylin Ploeger faced 4 Lady Pirate batters, allowing 0 hits, 0 runs, walked one and retired one on strikes.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO
South Ripley Lady Raider representatives from front left are: Varsity Coach Lindsey Payne, seniors Courtney Walker and Sally Adams. Lady Eagle Captains from deep left are: seniors Kiersten Young, Kaylin Ploeger, Tasha Krieg and Carissa Simon along with Varsity Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagle Coach Brian Samples. The Lady Eagles won the game held at the Ohio Rod field on Wednesday, April 9, by a final score of 9-2