EXTRA BASE HIT … Edgerton’s Ava Giesige loops a pitch into the outfield for a standup double.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
EDGERTON SENIOR … Alivia Farnham lines a single in the Bulldogs’ district final win over Tiffin Calvert. VIEW 94 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Mario Gomez
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
DEFIANCE (May 23, 2026) – Tiffin Calvert and Edgerton had to make a small adjustment when their game was moved from Bryan to Defiance with the unstable weather being the reasoning.
What started as a game solidly controlled by the Senecas turned into a testament to never giving up and a hard fought win for the Bulldogs.
Edgerton (17-4) used a four-run fifth inning and solid defense in the late innings to prevail over Calvert 4-3 and move on to the regional semifinals to face off against a familiar face, the Ayersville Pilots.
Calvert wasted little time taking a lead in the first inning. Gracie Miller led off the game with a double that got past the left fielder.
Savannah Faber laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Miller to third. Ava Eilrich hit a fly ball out to centerfield that was deep enough to score Miller from third for a 1-0 lead.
Olivia Wallace gave up a single before getting a ground out for the third out. Edgerton started their first at bat on a high note after Ayden King smacked a shot to right that resulted in a standup triple.
Pitching for the Senecas, Eilrich settled down from the hit and struck out the next three Bulldog hitters to strand King at third.
The Senecas went down 1-2-3 in their half of the second. Ava Giesige opened the inning with a double but Eilrich struck out the side to end the small threat.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fourth inning. Claire Shoenberger was hit by a pitch to get on base, stole second and advanced to third after Gentry Gillett blooped a single to center.
Audrey Sheets bunted to the first baseman King who tagged the hitter out then threw home to try to get Shoenberger but the throw was late and the Senecas scored to take a 2-0 lead.
The Dogs got a runner on base for the fourth straight inning but could not get that all important hit to score a run.
Meanwhile in the top of the fifth, Eilrich came to bat with two outs and connected on a solid shot that cleared the centerfield fence for a home run to increase their lead, 3-0.
The bats woke up in the bottom of the fifth for Edgerton thanks to a misplayed fly ball.
Morgan Cape sent a high fly ball to right field where Bella Steyer misjudged the flight of the ball and never got her glove on it.
Cape put on the jets and got to third to start a Bulldog rally. Addyson King singled to left to score Cape for the first run. Ayden King reached on a double to left to put runners on at second and third.
Alivia Farnham bunted her way on to load the bases with nobody out.
Wallace smoked a hot shot to short that Miller could not handle for a single and another Edgerton run after Addyson King crossed the plate to trail 3-2.
Ava Swank stepped to the plate and singled to score Ayden King and Farnham to take the lead.
The Senecas stopped the bleeding and got three straight outs to end the inning but it was clear that Edgerton had gained the momentum.
In the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs played flawless defense helped out by another Wallace strikeout, a groundout and a pop out to shut down Calvert.
Ayden King started the inning with a shot that split the outfielders for a double.
After a pop out, Farnham bunted in front of the plate and the ball played with the line but never went foul to reach first base and move Ayden King to third base.
Farnham stole second base but both runners were stranded after a pair of groundouts failed to score the runners.
Edgerton needed only three outs to earn the win and move on in tournament play. Wallace started the ‘Dogs off with a strikeout of Emma Grabert then got Miller to line out for the second out.
Savannah Faber was not ready to give up, reaching on a single to left to keep the Senecas hopes of a comeback alive.
Eilrich was at the plate looking to reach base to add to the drama of the final inning.
On a 2-2 count, Faber took off from first trying to steal second but Giesige, behind home plate, threw a dart down to second to beat the runner and record the out, giving Edgerton the district championship.
TCHS 100 110 0 – 3 6 1
EHS 000 040 x – 4 12 0
WP – Olivia Wallace (IP-7, H-6, R-3, BB-1, K-8)
LP – Ava Eilrich (IP-6, H-12, R-4, BB-0, K-9)
LEADING HITTERS: (Calvert) Kate Coleman – 2 singles; Ava Eilrich – home run, 2 RBIs; (Edgerton) Ayden King – triple, double; Ava Swank – 2 singles, 2 RBIs; Addyson King – single, double, RBI.