FLASHING THE LEATHER … Archbold shortstop Klaire Kern lays out to catch a popup in the fourth inning of the Division V sectional final.
(PHOTOS BY RACHEL NAGEL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NWOAL FOES … Delta’s Liz Schlatter comes in to make the catch in right field during the Panthers’ sectional final at NWOAL foe Archbold.
By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
ARCHBOLD (May 14, 2025) – The Archbold Bluestreaks cruised to a Division V sectional final victory over the Delta Panthers on Wednesday night, behind a no-hitter from Makena Thiel.
Thiel was dominant all night, as she was only one walk away from a perfect game. She finished with five strikeouts as well, establishing her dominance all game.
The Panthers were not as dominant as they struggled to produce any offense throughout the night.
The top of the first indicated what was to come, as the Panthers went three up and three down in the inning.
The bottom of the first saw the Bluestreaks entering the scoring column. It started when Adi Kinsman reached base as she was hit by a pitch.
Kinsman eventually stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, giving the Bluestreaks a runner on third with only one out.
Madi Bowers followed with an RBI single, plating Kinsman, giving the Bluestreaks a 1-0 lead. Meg Ames then grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Panthers second inning wasn’t much better, as the only batter to reach base in the inning was Lainey Bilek, who was walked.
The Bluestreaks didn’t produce much offense in the second, as they went three up and three down, with Delta’s Graycn Pelton securing a strikeout in the inning.
The Panthers third inning also only saw one batter reach base, when Anna Lohman was hit by a pitch.
The Bluestreaks built on their lead in the third, with Charlee Forward leading off with a single, giving Archbold an opportunity early in the inning.
Daylin Bosco followed by laying down a sac bunt, but due to an error she reached base safely and Forward scored all the way from first.
The next run came when Ames was walked with the bases loaded, bringing home Bosco, giving the Bluestreaks a 3-0 lead by the innings end.
The fourth inning was more of the same for the Panthers, as they went three up and three down, with Archbold’s Thiel securing a strikeout in the inning.
The Bluestreaks added to their lead again in the fourth, when Bosco singled to right, plating Grace Meyer, giving Archbold a 4-0 lead.
The fifth was three up and three down again for the Panthers, as Thiel picked up another strikeout, keeping the Panthers off balance all night.
The Bluestreaks fifth inning was a display of offensive firepower, as Thiel and Klaire Kern both homered in the inning.
Forward followed with an RBI single, plating Meyer and giving the Bluestreaks an 8-0 lead.
The final two runs came when Bosco hit a fly ball to right, and due to an error, Forward scored, followed by Bosco running around the bases and securing the final run.
Third-seeded Archbold will now face No. 2 seed Otsego in the Division V district semifinals at Liberty Center on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 p.m.
DHS 000 00 – 0 0 4
AHS 102 16 – 10 8 0
Records: DHS 1-16, AHS 15-5
WINNING PITCHER: Thiel (5 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk)
LOSING PITCHER: Pelton (4.2 innings, 8 hits, 10 runs, 6 earned, 4 strikeouts, 4 walks)
LEADING HITTERS: (Archbold) Thiel – home run, single, RBI; Kern – home run, 2 RBIs; Forward – 2 singles, RBI