GAME-WINNING RUN … Hayden Sharps touches home plate with the game-winning run after a bases loaded walk in the sixth inning.
(PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
REGIONAL SEMIFINAL RALLY … Montpelier’s Jacob Lyons takes a swing during a sixth inning rally by the Locos to take a 3-2 lead.
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
BOWLING GREEN (June 4, 2025) – A pair of bases loaded walks in the sixth inning gave the Locos the tying and then game-winning run as they advanced to the Division VII regional final by beating Miller City 3-2 at Carter Park in Bowling Green.
Miller City struck first in the second inning after a leadoff double from Max Long and an error on a ground ball by Andrew Weis scored Long to give the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage.
Montpelier got the run back in the third as CJ Fidler singled to center and Tyler Plourde dropped a bunt single that moved Fidler to third to give the Locos runners on the corners with no outs.
A Wesley Hartsock sacrifice fly to left allowed Fidler to tag up and score from third to even the score at 1-1.
Miller City came back with one run in the sixth to retake the lead as a single, error, and another single plated Long, who opened the rally with a base hit, as Miller City went back in front 2-1.
Hartsock started the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle and Hayden Sharps registered a bunt single back to the pitcher to put two on for the Locos.
Montpelier, who was playing without head coach Toby Hutchison who was serving the first game of a two-game suspension after being ejected in the district final, followed a fly out by starting pitcher Kenneth Smeltzer by scoring two runs without a hit.
Miller City pitcher Jack Wenzinger was called for a balk that moved Hartsock to third and Sharps to second. With first base now open, Wenzinger intentionally walked Griffin Cooley to load the sacks.
Jaxon Stahler would then work the count full before drawing a walk to force in Hartsock to tie the game 2-2.
Malachi Smeltzer followed suite as he worked the count to 3-1 before getting the walk to score Sharps and give Montpelier 3-2 lead before a pick off of Cooley at third and strikeout by Jacob Lyons ended the frame after a pitching change by the Wildcats.
Smeltzer started the seventh by getting a ground out and then his ninth strikeout of the game to quickly record two outs.
Miller City wasn’t done as Brayden Niese and Wenzinger would drive the first pitches they saw to the outfield for singles and then moved to second and third after a pass ball.
With the go-ahead run at second, Smeltzer would get Brendan Barlage looking for his tenth strikeout of the game to send Montpelier to the regional finals for the first time since 2003.
Smeltzer surrendered seven hits on the day and no earned runs in getting the complete game win.
Due to rain, Thursday’s regional final versus Minster (23-6) has been postponed to 2 p.m. at Carter Park on Friday.
MCHS 010 001 0 – 2 7 0
MHS 001 002 x – 3 6 2
Records: MHS 20-5, MCHS 23-6
WINNING PITCHER: Smeltzer (7 innings, 7 hits, 2 runs, 0 earned, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts)
LOSING PITCHER: Wenzinger (5.1 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 earned, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts) Other: Weis
LEADING HITTERS: (Miller City) Long – double, single, 2 runs; Niese – 2 singles; Weis – single, 2 RBIs; (Montpelier) Hartsock – single, RBI; Stahler – single, RBI