Roundup: Area baseball, softball and track teams open their seasons

Baseball

Circleville 8, Chillicothe 0: The Cavaliers suffered their first loss of the season after falling to the Tigers at VA Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. The Cavaliers struggled to work past Tigers pitcher Logan Smith, who struck the Cavaliers out 11 times over his six innings on the mound. Mason Siberell broke the hitting drought after managing a double in the sixth inning, but that was all the Cavaliers mustered.

Trent Wade spent four innings on the mound while allowing five runs on six hits and striking out five batters. Jackson Oyer came in to relieve Wade, and he allowed two runs while earning two strikeouts in his two innings pitched. Kayden Aftyka closed the final inning out with three strikeouts on two hits, and he allowed one run.

Oak Hill 13, Piketon 5: The Redstreaks took a loss in the first game of the regular season after falling to the Oaks on the road on Saturday. Grayson Roberts led the Redstreaks after going 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while Zack Hannah went 1-for-3 with two RBIs of his own.

Roberts also came in to relieve starting pitcher Alex Jenkins after the third inning, lasting four innings on the mound and striking out six while allowing four runs. Jenkins struck out three and allowed four hits during his three innings on the mound.

Softball

Unioto sweeps Fairland in doubleheader: The Shermans opened their season with a roar after sweeping the Dragons in a doubleheader on Saturday, winning the first game 10-6 and the second game 19-12.

Hannah Hull picked up her first win in the circle after lasting seven innings. Hull struck out three and allowed four earned runs, while also batting 2-for-2 on the day. Abbie Marshall knocked in a home run and finished the first game 2-for-3, while Megan Miller went 2-for-4 with an RBI in game one.

Miller also earned her first win of the season in the circle for game two. She also batted 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a stolen base in the second game of the doubleheader. Alexis Book led the Shermans after going 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs, a home run and two stolen bases in the game. Morgan Daniels went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a home run of her own. Daniels also added on a double and two stolen bases.

Piketon sweeps Chesapeake in doubleheader: The Redstreaks rolled through their first opponent of the season after taking down the Panthers on the road. They won the first game 3-1 behind a five-inning pitching performance from Camryn Campbell, who struck out nine during her time in the circle. Ashlyn Elliott led the Redstreaks after going 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs, and Kaylee Maynard followed suit after going 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Piketon found further success in game two and clobbered the Panthers 11-3. Kyndall Carroll lasted five innings in her first win of the season while striking out three and not allowing any earned runs. Renee Hill ended the day 2-for-2 with three RBIs to her name, while Elayna VanNoy went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Huntington splits doubleheader: The Huntsmen took both their first win and their first loss of the season after splitting a doubleheader with the Tomcats on Saturday. Mackenzie Paugh pitched a complete game in game one to lead the Huntsmen to a 13-3 win, striking out five and allowing the Tomcats only three runs of the game while in the circle.

Nora Moore went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs, while Makenzie Talbert went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Savannah Bushatz went 3-for-5 and stole four bases in game one, and Kaylee Kendall went 2-for-4 in the game with an RBI.

However, the Huntsmen didn't find as much success in game two. They were shut out by River Valley 11-0 in their second game of the day. Allie Baker led the team after going 1-for-2 with a double.

Track and Field

Chillicothe Fairweather Relays: Chillicothe, Unioto, Huntington and Waverly all rang in the new season with a the Chillicothe Fairweather Relays on Saturday. Chillicothe took second place in the girls events with 88 points, Unioto earned third place with 82 points, Huntington took seventh with 31 points, and Waverly finished in eighth place with 25 points. In the boys events, Unioto claimed second place with 82 points, Waverly tied for fourth with 61 points, Chillicothe took sixth with 61 points, and Huntington took seventh place with 44 points.

The Cavaliers took first place in four team events Saturday. The team of Katherina McCallum, Simone Fleurima, Alana McKenzie and Ali Mathis earned first in the girls' 4x800-meter relay, while Jacey Harding, Maggie Butler, Ista McNeal and Karissa Umphries secured a first-place finish in the girls' 4x100 shuttle hurdle. Mamo Willison, Aaron Valentine, Tre King and Lucas Rinehart took first in the boys 4x200relay, while Willison, Rinehart, Sam Parker and Matthew McCorkle took first in the boys' 4x400 relay.

The Shermans took first place in six team events. Ava Fyffe, Gwyn Eldridge, Ava Rooker and Cameron Walker won the girls' 4x1600 relay, while Aidyn Danison, Magnolia Holbert, Jozie Zickafoose and Addison Mohan won the girls' 800 sprint medley. Rooker, Eldridge, Walker and Isabella Fox rounded out the final first-place finish for the Lady Shermans after winning the girls' distance medley. Caden Larue, J.J. Larue, Ashton Beverly and Seth Ogan won the boys' 4x800 relay, while Corbin Demint, Matt Griffin, Kyan Clark and Maddox Fox took first place in the boys' 800 sprint medley. Beverly, Ogan, Eli Peck and J.J. Larue also took home first in the boys' 4x1600 relay.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Roundup: Area baseball, softball and track teams open their seasons