RALEIGH, N.C. — Senior Emily Richards (Delaware/Hayes) continued her streak of taking down school records and etching her name in the record books on Friday afternoon as she and sophomore Taylor Lavey (New Baltimore, Mich./Findlay) represented the No. 6-ranked Ohio Northern women's outdoor track and field team at the 2018 Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C.
Richards finished third overall in the 1,500-meter run in the Division I-dominated field of runners, finishing in 4:15.77.
Icon sports writer Cort Reynolds provides previews of Ada's four spring varsity sports: softball, baseball, track and boys' tennis. We start with the softball preview.
By Cort Reynolds
Ada softball squad returns strong core to go with frosh hurler
A very strong senior class of five returning veteran starters will lead the talented Ada softball team in its quest for a first-ever league championship in 2018.
OTTOVILLE - The Ada softball team scored eight runs in the fourth inning and cruised to a 14-0 win in its delayed season opener at non-league foe Ottoville Wednesday evening.
Freshman Leona Dalton fired a five-inning shutout in her debut, and aided her own cause with two hits, a run batted in and three runs scored. Dalton struck out five and walked none in the run-rule shortened, complete-game effort.
The Lady Bulldogs scored two runs in the first inning, then added one in the second and three more in the third to build a 6-0 cushion. They then put the game out of reach with eight more in the fourth frame.
In just his second year as head coach of the Ohio Northern men's basketball program, Rich Bensman had the Polar Bears vying for an Ohio Athletic Conference in 2017-18.
Despite being picked to finish sixth in the Ohio Athletic Conference coaches preseason poll prior to the season, Northern posted its best season in 11 years on its way to a trip to the OAC Tournament Championship game.
The Polar Bears finished the season with a 19-9 record, its most wins since the 2006-07 ONU men's basketball team compiled 19 wins. Northern gave a solid effort in the OAC regular season race, finishing third in the conference standings with a 12-6 mark in the OAC.
WOOSTER — The Ohio Northern softball team swept Wooster 5-0, 5-0 and moved its winning streak to five straight games on Wednesday afternoon at Galpin Park.
The Polar Bears improve to 15-3 overall, while the Scots drop to 7-11.
Senior Kirsten Lightel (Tallmadge) and junior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster/Central) each pitched complete game victories for ONU in the pitchers circle.
Lightel moves to 8-1 on the season, while Surdej is now 7-2.
Junior Austin Frey of Peoria, Ariz., and a solid effort from the Northern defense led the Ohio Northern baseball team to a 4-2 victory over area-rival Defiance on Wednesday afternoon during an overcast and damp day at Wander Field. With their second straight victory, the Polar Bears move to 12-6 overall, while the Yellow Jackets drop to 6-7.
