BOTKINS – The Ansonia baseball team won its first game in the Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament, defeating Botkins 7-5 on Monday.

Ansonia jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with one run in the first inning and three in the third. Botkins scored its first run in the bottom of the second then Ansonia responded with runs in the third and fourth innings to lead 6-1.

Botkins scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-2, and Ansonia scored a run in the top of the fifth to go up 7-2. Botkins scored the game’s final three runs with two in the fifth and one in the sixth, but Ansonia held on for the 7-5 victory.

Ansonia had 12 hits and three errors in the game while Botkins had nine hits and three errors.

Jarvis Thwaits went 3-for-4 with a triple, two stolen bases, a RBI and a run for Ansonia. Tyler Neal was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Josh Heitkamp went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run. Taylor Brewer was 1-for-4 with a double and a RBI.

Devyn Sink was 1-for-4 with two stolen bases and three runs. Ethan Fischer was 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two RBIs. Ethan Hemmerich was 1-for-3 and scored a run. Ry Fortkamp was 1-for-4 with a RBI.

Fortkamp earned the win as he pitched four innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Caleb Jones pitched two innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits and three walks. Thwaits picked up the save as he pitched one scoreless inning, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out one.

Ansonia now advances to play at Fort Loramie at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the second round of the OHSAA tournament.