DELAYED START … Wauseon’s Max Russell shows bunt during the Indians’ district semifinal game with Napoleon. The start of the game was delayed by about 90 minutes due to rain showers.
(PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
WAUSEON SHORTSTOP … Thad Reckner settles in under a pop fly for an out.
By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
ARCHBOLD (May 28, 2025) – The Napoleon Wildcats defeated the Wauseon Indians on Wednesday night in a 5-4 comeback win to secure a chance to play for a district title.
The Indians led through the first six innings of the game, but the Wildcats’ never let the lead grow too far, as they secured the comeback victory in the final inning.
The scoring came early for the Indians, scoring two runs in the first inning. Caleb Kissel led off with a single to left, followed by Braylon Miller reaching base on an error from Napoleon’s second baseman.
With two outs and two runners on, Kahle Albright ripped a two-run double to right, plating Kissel and Miller, giving the Indians a 2-0 lead halfway through the first.
The Wildcats looked to respond in the bottom half of the inning. Parker Woods reached base on a walk, followed by Trey Rubinstein reaching base on an error from Wauseon’s first baseman.
A strikeout and fly out would follow, ending the inning for the Wildcats’, leaving the runners stranded and Napoleon scoreless.
The Wildcats’ second inning was similar to the first, as Cooper Korak reached base on a walk, followed by Paul Sausser reaching base on an error from Wauseon’s pitcher.
Similar to the first inning, the Wildcats would follow with a fly out, leaving both runners stranded again, and Napoleon was still scoreless through two.
The Indians built on their lead in the third, with Kissel and Miller both reaching base for a second time in as many at bats, as both hit singles.
A sac fly from Max Russell would end up bringing Kissel home, giving the Indians a 3-0 lead halfway through the third.
The Wildcats joined the Indians in the scoring column in the third, due to multiple defensive mistakes from Wauseon.
Rubinstein reached base on an error from Wauseon’s shortstop, where he was able to advance to second.
A second straight error from the Indians allowed Cal Bickel to reach base, while Rubinstein crossed home plate, making the score 3-1 by the end of the inning.
The fourth inning saw Espinoza retire the side, striking out two more batters in the inning, giving him 6 Ks through four.
The Wildcats used the bottom half of the inning to further help them cut into their deficit. Back-to-back errors from Wauseon’s third baseman allowed Korak and Sausser to reach base.
Woods was then walked, followed by a sac fly from Espinoza, which plated Korak, making the score 3-2 with the advantage going to the Indians.
The Indians looked to extend their lead in the fifth, as the Wildcats were chipping away at it inning by inning.
Kissel led off the inning with a walk, but two straight strikeouts from Espinoza had Wauseon on the brink of the innings’ end.
Two wild pitches in the following at bat would allow Kissel to advance to third, then Russell hit a ground ball that led to him reaching base on an error, plating Kissel and extending Wauseon’s lead to 4-2.
The Wildcats continued to fight back in the bottom half of the inning. Rubinstein led off with a single, followed by stealing second and tagged up to advance to third on an eventual fly out from Blaine Ford.
Mason Trausch followed with an RBI single to center, plating Rubinstein, cutting the Indians’ lead to one. Wauseon would lead 4-3 heading into the sixth.
The sixth inning saw both teams go three up and three down, giving the Indians a one score lead with only an inning to go.
Espinoza retired all three of the Indians’ batters in the inning, securing two more strikeouts, bringing his total to 11 on the night.
Two straight scoreless innings for the Indians meant they had no room for error on the defensive side in the bottom half of the seventh.
Speaking of no room for error, the Wildcats first batter of the inning, Espinoza, reached base due to an error from Wauseon’s shortstop.
This completely flipped the momentum, and the Wildcats were on the attack. An RBI triple from Bickel would bring home Espinoza, tying the game at 4-4.
This is the first time the game has been tied since it was 0-0 in the top of the first, the Wildcats had climbed all the way back, but could they secure the win?
A hit by pitch of Ford and intentional walk of Trausch loaded the bases for Eric Hershberger.
In the bottom of the seventh, for a chance at a district title, on a 2-2 count, Hershberger drilled a single over the right fielder, plating Bickel, giving the Wildcats the walk-off win.
WHS 201 010 0 – 4 4 7
NHS 001 110 2 – 5 6 5
Records: WHS 10-13; NHS 19-6-1
WINNING PITCHER: Espinoza (7 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs, 0 earned, 11 strikeouts, 2 walks)
LOSING PITCHER: Miller (1.1 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts) Other: Sherman
LEADING HITTERS: (Wauseon) Albright – double, 2 RBIs; Kissel – 2 singles, 3 runs; (Napoleon) Hershberger – 2 singles, RBI; Bickel – triple, RBI; Rubenstein – 2 singles, 3 runs