CLAYTON — Northmont opened Greater Western Ohio Conference play Wednesday with a 9-4 loss to Fairmont despite out-hitting the Firebirds six to five.
Brady Lupton led the Thunderbolts with two hits in four at bats including a double with one run and one RBI. Jacob Beck went one for three with a double, a stolen base, and scored one run. Cooper Lykins went one for three with one RBI.
Chase Fuduloff went one for three with a walk and Drake Sauber went one for four with an RBI. Brady Whitaker drew a pair of walks and stole a base. Jamir Ross had two stolen bases and scored one run.
Dylan Allamon opened the game on the mound for Northmont. He gave up two hits and five runs in two innings with five walks and one strike out. Nate Ferrel pitched three innings in relief and gave up three hits and three runs with three walks and no strikeouts.
Fairmont took a 2-0 first inning lead. Gabe Ledbetter drew a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Asa Dunlevey got hit by a pitch. Ledbetter stole third, Dunlevey stole second, and Ledbetter scored on a passed ball with Dunlevey advancing to third.
Skyler Slifer drew a walk. Dunlevey scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Tyler Mastro.
The Firebirds added three runs in the second inning. Aiden Fassold and Jace Griffith each drew a walk and advanced to third and second respectively on a passed ball. Fassold scored on a wild pitch.
Caden Stephens drew a walk and Ledbetter singled to center to drive in Griffith and Stephens.
Northmont got a run in the bottom of the third. Ross got hit by a pitch, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch.
Fairmont boosted its lead to 7-1 in the top of the fourth. Ledbetter drew a walk and advanced to second on a single to left by Stevie Doty. Slifer hit a two out double to score Ledbetter and Doty.
Lupton doubled in the bottom of the fourth and reached third on a passed ball. Lykins hit a pop fly single over third to score Lupton to cut Fairmont’s lead to 7-2.
Fairmont added a run in the fifth on a single by Mastro who reached second by catching the Northmont defense asleep. He advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Fassold.
Northmont got a run in the bottom of the fifth. Whitaker drew a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on another passed ball. He later scored on a single by Lupton to make it 8-3.
Fairmont scored its final run in the sixth when Doty made it to second on a fielding error. Dunlevey drew a walk and Mastro got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Doty scored when Josh Lanning hit a fly out to second.
Northmont got its final run in the bottom of the seventh. Beck belted a double to center and reached third on a passed ball. He scored when Sauber hit a ground out to shortstop.
The loss dropped Northmont to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Fairmont improved to 5-1 and 1-0.
Northmont suffered losses in its final two games in Florida to conclude its annual spring break trip with a record of 1-4.
The Thunderbolts generated only two hits and one run in a 12-1 loss to the Jensen Beach Falcons. The Falcons scored two runs in the top of the second inning, three in the third and seven in the fourth.
Hudson Gardiner hit a grand slam home run for Jensen Beach in the top of fourth inning while Dylan Fatovich hit a line drive single to right field to drive in a pair of runs.
Nate Ferrel took the loss on the mound for Northmont giving up seven hits and six runs in three innings with three strike outs and two walks.
Christian Herrington earned the victory for Jensen Beach. He pitched four innings, allowed two hits, no earned runs with six strike outs and no walks.
March 29 the Thunderbolts suffered a 5-3 loss to the Hinsdale Central (Illinois) Red Devils. Hinsdale scored twice in the top of the first inning and added three more in the fourth.
Dylan Allamon took the loss for Northmont. He pitched four innings, gave up five runs (three earned), five hits, struck out six and walked four.
Jackson Clark earned the victory for Hinsdale pitching seven innings, allowing three hits, three runs, with seven strike outs and one walk.
Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].
