Roundup: Bennett pitches shutout for Utica baseball against Worthington Christian

Chase Bennett struck out eight without a walk, throwing a three-hit five-inning shutout Wednesday for Utica's baseball team (1-1) during a 10-0 victory against visiting Worthington Christian.

Aidyn Burgess led the offense with two hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Gavin Chinn added two hits, two runs and an RBI. Roman Gamble had a double, two runs and two RBIs.

Heights wins on road

Grady Stephens hit a three-run home run to break a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning, powering Licking Heights to a 7-3 victory at Liberty Union.

Jake Lopinto added a hit, a run and two RBIs for the Hornets (2-1). Tyler Brown and Joel Busker each had two hits and a run for the Hornets. Blaine Claffey and Chris Harvey combined for 11 strikeouts in a five-hitter.

Valley wins opener

Adam West and Aiden Harrold recorded two hits apiece, combining for three RBIs to lead Licking Valley past host Riverdale (Tennessee) in a 9-8 victory in the season opener.

Hayden Rodgers added two hits and a run. Brandt Lichtenauer had a hit and two runs. Gunner Bowman and Brody Rodgers each recorded a hit and a run for the Panthers. Evan Lichtenauer struck out five, and Evan Roberts got the final out for the save.

Newark nipped late

Visiting Tri-Valley scored two unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning, sending Newark to a 3-1 loss.

Thomas Olon struck out five in five three-hit innings for the Wildcats (0-2). Olon also had two hits, including a double, and Moses Crane added a hit and an RBI.

Ankrom leads Northridge

Braxton Ankrom totaled two hits, including a double, a run and three RBIs for Northridge in an 11-6 loss to Marshall (Missouri) in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Andrew Shay added two hits and an RBI. Noah Mason had a hit and two runs for the Vikings (0-4), who also fell 10-0 to Chagrin Falls. Riley Reeves allowed one earned run in three innings.

Pierce strong for Lakewood

Luke Pierce struck out five and allowed three hits and two runs in five innings of relief for Lakewood in an 8-2 loss to Glenbrook South (Illinois) in Shelby Park, Tennessee.

Pierce and William Marrero each singled for the Lancers (1-1).

SOFTBALL

Keeran lifts Heath

Kristal Keeran’s walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Heath a 7-6 victory against visiting Bloom-Carroll.

Sydney Cottrell hit a home run, recorded two runs and two RBIs. Emma Ghiloni chipped in with two hits, a run and two RBIs, while Shelby Moore had two hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs (2-0), who trailed 4-1 in the fifth inning.

Heights rallies

Alissa West’s two-run double in the top of the seventh inning gave Licking Heights an 8-6 victory at Canal Winchester.

Lydia Rauch racked up four hits, a run and two RBIs for the Hornets (2-0). West totaled three hits, a run and three RBIs. Chesney McPeck had a hit, two runs and an RBI. Those performances helped Licking Heights come back after trailing 5-0 in the fourth inning. McPeck struck out three and allowed one run in four innings of relief.

Valley cruises

Tori Baughman and D’Neya Dennis combined for seven hits, four runs and three RBIs, fueling Licking Valley in an 11-1 victory at Philo.

Baughman also struck out nine in six three-hit innings for the Panthers (2-0). Rylee Pitt added a hit, three runs and an RBI. Addison Justice provided a triple, two runs and an RBI.

NC wins on road

Addi Gerber tripled and drove in two runs for Newark Catholic in a 6-4 victory at Fredericktown.

Kylie Gibson added a hit, two runs and an RBI. Kami Diaz and Avery Nagel each notched a double and a run for the Green Wave (2-0), while Veronica Bailey struck out two and allowed no earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Dobbs powers Watkins

Cortney Dobbs pounded two home runs and drove in five runs for Watkins Memorial in a 13-3 victory against Olentangy in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Kendal Tellings also homered, and Jordyn Wycuff added three hits, three runs and two RBIs. Bryna Davis posted three hits and two runs. Carsyn Cassady struck out eight in three one-hit innings for the Warriors (3-0).

Northridge falls at home

Gracie Smith had a hit and two RBIs for Northridge in a 15-5 loss to visiting Reynoldsburg.

Kaitlyn Angus added a double and a run, while Josie VanFossen had a hit and an RBI for the Vikings (1-1).

Looney leads Liberty

Madison Looney hit a two-run double for Liberty Christian in a 24-2 loss to visiting Gahanna JV.

Looney also singled and Madelynn Cox and Megan Evenson each scored for the Eagles (0-2).

BOYS TENNIS

Newark edges Logan

Newark won both doubles matches to earn a 3-2 victory against Logan in the season opener.

Amari Rembert and Noah DeVries, 6-2, 6-4, and Grayson Boyer and Victor Gleckler, 6-4, 6-2, won doubles matches for the Wildcats. Evan DeVries won at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-4.

Watkins wins on road

Michael Hare at No. 2 singles, 4-6, 6-1, 1-0, and Gavin Adelman and Will Stought, 3-6, 6-4, 1-0, at No. 2 doubles won third-set tiebreakers to lift Watkins Memorial to a 4-1 victory at Gahanna.

Liam Grennan, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 1 singles and Nathan Walter and Graham Smith, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles also won for the Warriors (2-0).

TRACK

Caudill wins two races

Addison Caudill won in the 1,600 (5:27.85) and 3,200 (11:49.78) on Tuesday, leading the Licking Heights girls to a runner-up finish in Hamilton Township’s Booster Invitational.

Other winners were Emma French in the 300 hurdles (48.34), Morgan Watkins in the 800 (2:40.83) and Sabrina Bauer in the long jump (16 feet).

The Hornets totaled 113 points, trailing just Amanda-Clearcreek’s 121.5.

In the boys meet, Alieu Touray in the shot put (43-2) and Alex Amartey in the discus (139-4) each took runner-up finishes to lead Heights.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Chase Bennett pitches shutout for Utica Redskins baseball