ON THE RUN … Griffin Cooley makes a running catch in the outfield for the Locos.
PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PAYBACK … Kenneth Smeltzer tossed a complete game and struck out nine as Montpelier avenged a tournament loss to Minster last season. VIEW 107 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
BRYAN (May 30, 2026) — After getting no hits and shut out in last year’s Division VII regional baseball final by Minster, Montpelier wanted another shot against the defending state champions, and the Locomotives had no problem in an 11-2 victory over the Wildcats in the district final at Bryan’s Ray Sumpter Field.
It also marked the third consecutive district crown for the Locomotives who will take a 17-6 overall record into their regional semifinal matchup on June 3 against Miller City at 5 p.m. at Carter Park in Bowling Green.
“Coming into this game we had a lot to prove with Minster coming up and what happened last year and I’m going to tell you what these boys responded,” said Montpelier head coach Toby Hutchinson.
“We had kind of in my eyes a rough season, but I tell you what the way we’ve played tournaments so far is just a complete turnaround. These boys are not ready to give up yet and they have a lot to prove.”
Knowing the Locos had to bring their “A” Game against the defending state champs and certainly they did with leadoff hitter Wesley Hartsock starting the bottom of the first inning with a double into left field and Griffin Cooley followed it with a single.
Designated hitter Zaine Stull then walked to load the bases before Malachi Smeltzer executed a sacrifice squeeze bunt in front of home plate enabling Hartsock to score the first run of the game.
Kenneth Smeltzer walked to load the bases, and Jaxon Stahler was hit by a pitch scoring Cooley for a 2-0 lead.
Hayden Sharps then drew the third walk in the frame off Minster starting pitcher Andrew Wiss scoring Stull for a 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, Minster got back-to-back singles from Reese Blair and Jace Hemmelgarn, but Locos’ starting pitcher Kenneth Smeltzer would record a pair of strikeouts and an infield flyout to end it.
Montpelier pushed its lead to 6-0 with three runs in the second inning. Hartsock led off with his second double of the game.
Cooley was then hit by a pitch, thus forcing the Wildcats to go to their bullpen with Dominic Meyer replacing Wiss who lasted just one inning after giving up five runs. Malachi Smeltzer added an RBI single and Stahler followed with an RBI sacrifice bunt.
The Locos scored their other run as the Wildcats committed an error enabling Cooley to score from second base.
The Locos added two runs in the fourth inning. Malachi Smeltzer led off with a double and Kenneth Smeltzer was hit by a pitch.
Malachi Smeltzer scored on a sacrifice bunt by Stahler and Hayden Sharps delivered a bloop single scoring Kenneth Smeltzer with the other run.
Montpelier, who hadn’t allowed a single run in 15 innings in the tournament, saw its scoreless streak ended as Minster scored twice in the sixth inning. Carson Kaylor led off with a single and later scored via a passed ball. Ty Hein followed with a walk and scored on an RBI double by Jace Hemmelgarn.
The Locos scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning before Kenneth Smeltzer slammed the door on the Wildcats with three consecutive strikeouts in the seventh inning to earn another trip to regionals.
“These guys got it done today,” commented Hutchinson. “From the start, scoring runs early and just keep putting on them. I didn’t think Minster was looking for a team to come out like that.
“They’re not used to seeing teams that with this new arrangement they have and bring some of these teams from the south up here and they found out what it’s like to come north.”
Hartsock from his leadoff hitting spot was productive, going 4 for 5 with two singles and two doubles. Malachi Smeltzer and C.J. Fidler each added a pair of hits complementing the Locos’ 12-hit attack.
“We put up 12 hits today, and I don’t think we’ve put up 12 hits total in the season,” said Hutchinson. “We had struggled at the plate, but they came to play today, and we’ve always talked about that.
“All we have to do is to win eight games in a year, and that starts at sectionals and ends at state. Whatever happened before that is just practice. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Kenneth Smeltzer went the distance on the mound for the Locos. He allowed two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in the complete game pitching win.
“You are not going to find much of a better pitching staff going 1-2 with Kenneth (Smeltzer) and Wesley (Hartsock) and in my opinion two of the top pitchers in the state,” said the Locos coach.
Hemmelgarn led Minster with three hits including a double. The Wildcats finished their season at 17-9.
MIN 000 002 0 – 2 6 1
MHS 330 203 x – 11 12 1
WP- Kenneth Smeltzer (IP-7, R-2, H-6, K-9, BB-0)
LP- Andrew Wiss (IP-1, R-5, H-3, K-2, BB-3)
LEADING HITTERS: (Minster) Jace Hemmelgarn — 2 singles, double; Carson Kaylor — 2 singles; (Montpelier) Wesley Hartsock — 2 singles, 2 doubles, 2 runs; Malachi Smeltzer — 2 singles, 2 RBIs, run; C.J. Fidler — 2 singles, RBI, run.