League-leading Sauers E increased its winning streak to 17 games by sweeping Borchers in week nine of the Lutheran Dartball League.

They increased their lead to three games with a record of 24-3.

Second-place White Creek N fell to three games back, losing the third game to Brownstown 4 7-0. Redeemer N jumped into a tie for third with Wegan W by sweeping Immanuel Darty 2-1, 6-1 and 3-1. The air coming off of the lake must have been cold Monday night as the Pastors traveled to Lutheran Lake and were swept 2-0, 2-1 and 2-0.

From dartball history: By the fall of 1995, the league had enjoyed 43 years of Christian fellowship and competition among Lutheran men in Jackson and Bartholomew counties. The league wanted to do something to give back to the church community.

The idea to create a college scholarship was presented. For an additional $20 per team entry fee, the Lutheran Dartball League Scholarship fund was initiated. This $500 annual scholarship was available to any collegebound boy or girl who was a member of one of the Lutheran churches with a team in the league.

Applications were judged by teachers and pastors of the Lutheran churches involved. Applications were weighed heavily on the students’ activities in their church, school and community.

Jennifer Nigg, a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, was the recipient of the first scholarship presented at the tournament in 1996.

After years of planning Trinity Lutheran High School, it became a reality in the fall of 2001 with classes the first year held at First Baptist Church in Seymour. The league voted to add a $250 scholarship for a student enrolled at Trinity with the first scholarship awarded at the tournament in 2002. The Lutheran Dartball League was proud to be the first scholarship awarded to a student of Trinity.

Although there are no records in the minutes of the league in the fall of 2009, a motion must have been presented and passed to drop the scholarship program. Lutheran Dartball League member Bob Klosterman said he would like to see the scholarship program brought back (at least to Trinity) to help a deserving student attend Trinity. For roughly $2 per player, Klosterman said the Trinity scholarship could be revived.

From 1996 to 2009, the league presented $9,000 in scholarships to deserving students.

College scholarship winners: Jennifer Nigg (Immanuel 1996), Ben Rothert (Immanuel 1997), Kristie Schroer (White Creek 1998), Lindsey Belk (Brownstown 1999), Jillian Hubbard (Immanuel 2000), Matt Meyer (Zion 2001), Kara Robinson (Immanuel 2002), Ross Rieckers (Good Shepherd 2003), Cheyenne Hackman (Sauers 2004), Kerry Hackman (Sauers 2005), Courtney Lambring (Sauers 2006), Layna Schneider (Immanuel 2007), Zach Smith (White Creek 2008), Ryan Schneider (Immanuel 2009).

Trinity Lutheran scholarship winners: Joshua Burbrink (2002), Matt Miller (Columbus 2003), Kimberly Meier (Zion 2004), Ashley Foster (Columbus 2005), Jacob Hercamp (White Creek 2006), Meghin Shelton (Immanuel 2007), Emily Newkirk (Immanuel 2008), Megan Hackman (Wegan 2009).