MAKING THE TURN … Montpelier’s Hayden Sharps rounds third on his way home with a run in a 10-0 district semifinal win over Edon.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SAFE AT HOME … Edon catcher Kadin Stantz goes airborne to catch the throw home while Wesley Hartsock slides in safely for the Locos in Montpelier’s 10-0 district semifinal win. VIEW 126 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
BRYAN (May 28, 2026) – For much of the year, Montpelier coach Toby Hutchison has been waiting for his team’s bats to awaken.
In the third and fourth innings of a Division VII semifinal against Edon (8-17), the Locos showed signs that the wait may be over.
Montpelier (16-6) scored seven runs on seven hits in those two innings, and Wesley Hartsock fired a one-hit shutout as the Locos advanced to the district championship game with a 10-0 five-inning win over the Bombers.
“Going into it we knew what we were going to have to do and we are going to make things happen,” Hutchison said.
“Early in the season I wanted our guys to hit, and I think I’ve explained that to you guys before. Early on I got a little nervous with us not hitting really well but we executed some things and made things happen.
“Just by making things happen and creating chaos, they threw the ball around and gave us an opportunity to score runs.”
“We got bunts down and got timely hits and we can’t be more proud of the boys,” Hutchison added.
The Locos scored without a hit in the first to give Hartsock the only run he would need. Griffin Cooley drew a walk on Edon starter Korbin Olds, stole second and third and advanced home when the throw to third got away.
In the third, Cooley ignited a three-run rally with a one-out triple to center and came to roost when Zaine Stull’s pop fly fell for a hit.
Another throwing error on a steal of third base marked the second run of the inning, as the Bombers committed four errors in all in the game.
Malachi Smeltzer struck out on a ball in the dirt but reached first when the ball got away. Smeltzer scored on Jaxon Stahler’s single to left that put the Locos ahead 4-0.
Run-scoring singles from Hartsock and Stull, along with two Bombers errors, plated four more runs in the fourth against Olds and reliever Corbin Chrisman.
Montpelier closed the game in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of walks, the final two Edon errors and two hit batsmen that forced in the final two runs on the night.
As for Hartsock? Well, the junior righty allowed just two base runners. A walk to Chrisman in the first, Braeden Wehrle’s single in the second.
The only other Bomber to touch first safely was Kadin Stantz, who reached on an error in the fourth.
Hartsock put down nine Bombers on strikes, including the side in the top of the fifth.
Montpelier’s opponent in the district final will be Minster, with the game this afternoon in Bryan at 12pm.
EHS 000 00 – 0 1 4
MHS 103 42 – 10 8 1
WP- Wesley Hartsock (IP-5, R-0, H-1, K-9, BB-1)
LP- Korbin Olds (IP-3.1, R-8, H-8, K-5, BB-2)
LEADING HITTERS: (Montpelier) Griffin Cooley – single, triple; Hayden Sharps – double; Zaine Stull – 2 singles, 2 RBIs; Malachi Smeltzer – 3 RBIs; (Edon) – 1 single
