REGIONAL FINAL … CJ Fidler settles in under a fly ball in the first inning.
(PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
MONTPELIER STARTER … Wesley Hartsock delivers a pitch in the Division VII regional final at Bowling Green.
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
BOWLING GREEN (June 6, 2025) – In Wednesday’s regional semifinal, Minster used four pitchers to get the job done as they rallied to beat New Rigel 9-8.
In Friday night’s regional final, one pitcher is all they needed. Louis Magoto held the Locos hitless and allowed just two base runners while striking out 10 as Minster beat Montpelier 3-0 for the school’s sixth trip all-time to state.
Montpelier starter Wesley Hartsock went toe-to-toe with Magoto through the first three innings to keep Minster off the board until the bottom of the fourth when the Wildcats turned to small ball for the game’s first run.
Magoto led off with a single and advanced to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by James Niemeyer.
Ian Homan continued the small ball clinic with a fly out to right field which allowed Magoto to slide over to third base with two away. Rylan Edwards would then deliver a single to left to bring home Magoto to make it 1-0.
Montpelier would get their second base runner of the game in the fifth as Malachi Smeltzer was hit by a pitch with two outs, but Jacob Lyons was retired on a dropped third strike to end the inning.
Minster added two insurance runs in the sixth beginning with a walk, sacrifice bunt, and another RBI single by Edwards made it 2-0.
After getting the second out of the frame on a line out, Hartsock would run into control issues that resulted in another Wildcat run.
The next two batters reached via a walk and hit by pitch, respectively, from Hartsock to load the bases before Dylan Heitkamp would draw a walk to force in Edwards to push the lead 3-0, spelling the end of the day for Hartsock.
With Jaxon Stahler now on the hill, the Locos were able to cut down Caleb Couse as he tried to steal home for the final out of the inning.
Magoto continued his dominance to end the game with two strikeouts and a ground out in the seventh to secure a regional title and their first trip to state since 2019.
Hartsock went 5 2/3 innings on the mound, surrendering three runs on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts in taking the loss.
Montpelier ends their historic season with 20 wins, which ties the school record for most wins in a season with the 2021 team.
The 20-6 record is the best overall record by a baseball team in school history eclipsing the 2021 team which ended the season at 20-7.
MHS 000 000 0 – 0 0 0
MHS 000 102 x – 3 5 0
Records: Montpelier 20-6, Minster 24-6
WINNING PITCHER: Magoto (7 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts)
LOSING PITCHER: Hartsock (5.2 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 3 earned, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts) Other: Stahler
LEADING HITTERS: (Minster) 2 singles, 2 RBIs; Magoto – 2 singles