PANTHER PITCHER … Carlos DeSantos tossed a complete game with nine strikeouts in taking the loss on the bump for Delta.
(PHOTOS BY RACHEL NAGEL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NWOAL FOES … Archbold right fielder Collin Short makes the catch in last Saturday’s sectional final win over Delta.
By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
ARCHBOLD (May 24, 2025) – The Archbold Bluestreaks secured the Sectional Final victory over the Delta Panthers on Saturday afternoon, led behind a dominant performance on the mound from Archbold’s Zach Short.
Short pitched the entire seven innings, allowing only three hits and two runs, while striking out 10 batters throughout the game.
The Panthers struggled to find hits all game, but that didn’t prevent them from multiple scoring opportunities, and the first inning was an example of that.
With two outs, Lane Lopez and Vinnie Maurer both reached base on walks, but Gary Valentine struck out to end the inning, leaving the runners stranded, which would prove costly.
The Bluestreaks’ first inning was quite the opposite, as they took advantage of some defensive miscues from the Panthers’.
Both runs came from wild pitches, which allowed both Tripp Langenderfer and Collin Short to cross home plate, giving the Bluestreaks a 2-0 lead after just one inning.
The Panthers’ second went three up and three down, with Short picking up another one of his strikeouts in the inning.
The second inning saw the Bluestreaks threaten more runs, as Jace Castillo and Broden Piercefield both singled to lead off the inning.
Three straight outs led to the runners being stranded and the score remaining at 2-0 through two.
The third inning saw both teams go three up and three down, as both pitchers were looking to establish themselves.
The Panthers had more opportunities to score in the fourth, with Valentine and Jadon Lohman reaching base in a walk and error respectively.
The Panthers failed to capitalize on the runner in scoring position, leaving them stranded once again, unable to enter the scoring column through four.
The Bluestreaks only saw one batter reach base in the fourth, when Piercefield was walked. Delta’s Carlos DeSantos had a solid performance as well, allowing eight hits and five runs, but struck out nine batters.
The Panthers finally scored in the fifth, with Jacob Walter drilling an RBI double to right, plating Wyatt Flickinger. The second run came when Walter crossed home plate due to a passed ball, making the game 2-2 midway through the fifth.
That tie didn’t last very long, as Archbold’s Ethan Bowman hit an RBI single to regain the lead, as he plated Collin Short. The Bluestreaks led 3-2 through five, putting pressure on the Panthers to generate more offense.
The final two innings didn’t produce any runs for the Panthers’, while the Bluestreaks cushioned their lead in the sixth.
A score off a passed ball, followed by an RBI single from Piercefield, gave the Bluestreaks a 5-2 lead that would eventually give them the sectional final win.
Archbold will take on the top seeded Ottawa Hills Green Bears in the Division V district semifinals at Defiance on May 29.
DHS 000 020 0 – 2 3 1
AHS 200 012 x – 5 8 1
Records: DHS 7-13; AHS 13-11
WINNING PITCHER: Z. Short (7 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 10 strikeouts, 5 walks)
LOSING PITCHER: DeSantos (6 innings, 8 hits, 5 runs, 9 strikeouts, 2 walks)
LEADING HITTERS: (Delta) Walter – double, RBI; (Archbold) Bentley – double; Castillo – 2 singles; Langenderfer – 2 singles