DELPHOS — Jefferson’s baseball team seems to have found its stride.

Spencerville was the latest victim Monday night, succumbing 9-4 in Northwest Conference action at Wildcat Field.

“Over the last seven games, we’re 4-3 but we lost twice by a run and once by 2. We don’t have the wins we thought we would but we are playing good baseball,” Jefferson (6-5, 2-2 NWC) coach Troy Montenery noted. “We’re hitting the ball very well now and we’re playing good defense. Tonight was the best defensive game we’ve played yet. Josh Miller was flawless at third at Aaron Schuerman made a couple of fine plays at short.”

For Spencerville (2-7, 0-4 NWC), it was more of the same for coach Doug Stetler.

“In our league games, we lost 3-2 to Bluffton and 4-2 to Crestview; I felt we had good pitching and defense. Tonight and against Columbus Grove, I think the defense fell down,” Stetler began.

Sean Fisher got the win (2-1; 4 2/3 innings, 4 runs, 3 earned, 6 hits, 1 BB, 1 HB) and senior Damon Joseph (2 1/3 innings, 2 hits, 3 Ks) got his third save.

“Sean got us off to a great start and Damon gave us solid innings. We’ve played 11 games; he’s pitched in eight of them,” Montenery added. “I’d like to see us continue to play this well and put everything together, like we have been. The tournament is not far away and I’d like to see us go into that on a roll.”

Spencerville’s Adam Wolfe led off the game by being hit by a pitch but was doubled off on a liner back to the pitcher by Damon Koverman.

In the Bearcat second, Jeremy Hudson reached on a slow roller to third but was picked off first base to end the frame.

Adam Kraning led off the Jefferson half by being hit by a pitch from Bearcat starter Tyler Keysor (0-3; 5 innings, 8 runs, 7 earned, 9 hits, 5 K, 3 BB, 1 HB). Schuerman’s single to right put him at third; Schuerman stole second. Chris Wilkin hit a grounder to third which hung up Kraning and he was tagged out at the plate. Matt Gerdeman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. An out later, Joseph picked up an RBI walk to score Schuerman. Wilkin scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead.

In the Spencerville third, Matt Wirth led off with a walk. Chris Broecker grounded out to third, putting Wirth at second. Andy Richardson lined out to short and Wirth was doubled off second to end the inning.

“We hit the ball hard and got two double plays for our effort. That’s kind of our season in a nutshell,” Stetler added. “We only struck out three times, so that means we were putting the ball in play. It’s frustrating but we have to keep at it.”

In the home half of the third, Fisher singled to left, then reached third on a throwing error on an attempted pickoff. Miller singled to center to score Fisher. An out later, Schuerman singled to right. Wilkin hit a ball to the left-field fence that bounced off the leftfielder’s glove, scoring Miller and Schuerman. Wilkin was caught between second and third and was tagged out at third.

In the Wildcat fourth inning, Joseph tripled to right field with one out. Ryan Kortokrax entered the game for Cory Bastian as the DH and doubled to left to score Joseph. Fisher hit a bloop single to left. An out later, Kraning singled to center, scoring Kortokrax for a 7-0 spread. Kraning was thrown out at second on an attempted steal.

Spencerville finally struck back in the fifth. Seth Monfort singled and Keysor reached on a infield hit. Hudson flied out to center, scoring Monfort. Rice entered the game for Wirth and grounded out to third. Broecker singled and Richardson singled to left to score Keysor. Wolfe singled to right field; as the throw came in, the cut-off was missed and the ball was then thrown back into the outfield attempting to throw Wolfe out at second. Both Broecker and Richardson scored on the play. Joseph entered in relief and struck out Koverman to end the inning.

The Wildcats replied right away. Schuerman walked and stole second. Wilkin singled to center and Adam Wollenhaupt entered to pinch-run. Taylor Hesseling pinch-hit for Gerdeman and flied to right to score Schuerman.

In the Jefferson sixth, Fisher singled to left with one out and reached second on a wild pitch. An out later, Kraning reached on an infield hit. Fisher scored on a passed ball for Jefferson’s final tally.

In the top half of the seventh, with two outs, Broecker singled to left. Richardson reached on a infield hit. Broecker rounded second too carelessly and Fisher alertly charged him and forced a rundown; Miller tagged him for the final out.

Both teams are off until Thursday. Jefferson hosts Allen East (moved from Allen East due to lack of facilities) and the Bearcats welcome in LCC.

Spencerville     0 0 0    0 4 0     0 - 4   8  3

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

WP: Sean Fisher (2-1); Save: Damon Joseph (3); LP: Tyler Keysor.