PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SAFE AT THIRD (May 21, 2026) … Montpelier’s Zaine Stull slides safely into third base as the throw gets away. VIEW 160 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM

POP-UP … Stryker first baseman Lane Breen catches a pop fly during last week’s sectional final at Montpelier.

Montpelier 11, Stryker 0 (5 innings)

MONTPELIER — Montpelier romped to an 11-0 five-inning victory over Stryker in a Division VII sectional baseball final.

Kenneth Smeltzer belted a home run and drove in a pair of runs for Montpelier (15-6). Malachi Smeltzer singled twice, drove in two runs and scored three times. Hayden Sharps doubled and drove in a run for the Locos.

Camden Boggess singled for Stryker’s only base hit. The Panthers are now 3-13 overall. Kenneth Smeltzer was also the winning pitcher, allowing one hit with six strikeouts.

Montpelier now faces Edon in the district semifinal on Thursday, May 28 at 5 p.m. at Sumpter Field in Bryan.

SHS 000 00 – 0 1 3
MHS 421 4x – 11 6 0

WP- Kenneth Smeltzer (IP-5, R-0, H-1, K-6, BB-0)
LP- Chandler Lloyd (IP-1.1, R-5, H-4, K-1, BB-2)

LEADING HITTERS: (Stryker) – 1 single; (Montpelier) Kenneth Smeltzer – home run, 2 RBIs, run; Hayden Sharps – double, RBI; Malachi Smeltzer – 2 singles, 2 RBIs, 3 runs.