Delphi's Oracle baseball team competed Saturday in the Northwestern Classic at Kokomo, facing a pair of top 10 opponents. Delphi defeated Northfield 2-0 in the morning match-up and lost 8-6 to Boone Grove in the championship tilt.

In game 1, the Oracles faced the 5th ranked Class 2A Northfield Norsemen who came in sporting a 14-2 record.

The Oracles got started early with a leadoff single in the first by Andy Flora. After Mike Myers doubled to center, Flora scored on a single to right by Kory Banes for an early 1-0 lead.

Delphi tacked on another run in the sixth with Myers reaching on a walk, stealing second, and scoring on Andrew Cebulla's double to left.

Fine defensive play by the Oracles kept the Norsemen off the board and was featured by an inning ending double play in the sixth when Flora caught a fly in center and doubled off a runner attempting to advance to third after the catch.

Kyle Bender earned the win, keeping the Norsemen in check by allowing only 2 infield singles in 6-plus innings of work. Cebulla came on in the seventh, slamming the door for the save. Bender struck out 4 while raising his record to 6-2 on the year.

Vs. Boone Grove

The championship game featured the 7th ranked Class 2A Boone Grove Wolves who had defeated host Northwestern earlier in the day.

Again, the Oracles struck early with Flora leading off with a single to center. Austin Hawn walked and Myers doubled home Flora for the game's first run. After Cebulla was hit by a pitch, Tanner Cripe drove home Myers with a single to center for an early 2-0 lead.

The Wolves were able to push across a run in the bottom of the first but the Oracles added 2 more in the second after walks to Hawn and Myers and a 2-run double to center by Cebulla. After two innings, Delphi led 4- 1.

Boone Grove struck for 5 runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-4 lead. The Oracles responded quickly in the top of the fourth when after 2 fly ball outs, Hawn walked and Myers doubled him home. Cebulla received an intentional pass and Dustin Oliver made them pay by driving home Myers with a base hit to tie the score at 6.

Boone Grove pushed across 2 more runs in the bottom of the fourth to gain an 8-6 advantage.

The final three innings were scoreless for both clubs with Cripe providing 1 hit relief but the Oracles were unable to add to their score.

Delphi's record now stands at 13-7 with conference match-ups this week against Tipton Monday and Wednesday and a doubleheader Saturday at Rensselaer.

First year coach Pat Lowery has done a fine job molding this year's squad which earlier this season captured the Oracle Classic with commanding wins over Clinton Central and Seeger on April 26.

Individually, Banes is among the area leaders in batting, coming into the week batting well over .500. Myers and Cebulla are both hitting at a .475 clip while Myers is an area leader with 9 home runs. Bender and AJ Beckett have each fashioned no-hitters on the mound this season as well.