GAME-WINNING RUN … Gavin Bailey crosses home plate with the winning run on a sac fly by Brandon Taylor in the 11th inning. (PHOTO BY RICH HARDING, STAFF)
By: Nate Calvin
ELIDA – After missing bases loaded opportunities in the eighth and tenth inning to win the game, the Bluestreaks cashed in on a scoring chance in the 11th inning to get a 3-2 walk-off win the regional semifinals.
Archbold’s first chance to end the game came in the bottom of the eighth as Krayton Kern singled and DJ Newman doubled with one out.
Jaybe Burkle then walked to load the bases before Edison starter Thomas Simon would get Caleb Hogrefe to pop out and the Zane Behnfeldt flew out to right to end the inning.
The Bluestreaks were knocking on the door again in the bottom of the tenth after Newman and Burkle singled followed by Hogrefe drawing a walk to load the bases again with one out.
Edison escaped the inning though after Newman was caught trying to steal home on an unsuccessful suicide squeeze and Behnfeldt popped out to second base to end the threat.
The 11th inning started for Archbold with Gavin Bailey reaching base on an error and Devon Morris smacked a double to left to give the Streaks runners at second and third with no outs.
After Jack Hurst struck out for the first out of the inning, Brandon Taylor delivered by lifting a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Bailey to give Archbold the win and a berth in the regional finals.
Archbold scored the game’s opening run in the first inning as Kern scored reached base on a fielder’s choice, advanced to third on an error and a passed ball before scoring on a throwing error by the catcher.
Starting pitcher DJ Newman had a no-hitter going for the Bluestreaks going to the fifth inning before the Chargers put together three singles combined with a sac bunt as they tied the game 1-1.
Edison took the lead in the sixth inning as they mounted a two out rally beginning with Simon reaching on a dropped third strike.
The inning continued with Brady Barker getting hit by a pitch and Noah Smith walked to load the bases.
Dominic Dymond would hit a grounder to shortstop that was misplayed by Taylor which allowed Simon to score and give Edison a 2-1 lead.
Archbold quickly responded in their half of the sixth as Kern reached on an error and Newman (4-5, 2 doubles, 1 RBI) lined a double to left to drive in Kern to deadlock the game 2-2 as they headed to extra innings.
Archbold used a trio of pitchers with Newman getting the start (8 IP, 129 pitches, 4 hits, 2 runs, 11 K’s), Jayden Seiler (1 IP, 19 pitches, one strikeout), and Taylor (2 IP, 37 pitches, 2 hits, 1 K), who got the win.
Archbold out hit Edison 11-6 and committed two fielding errors compared to four errors by the Chargers.
Archbold (21-11), looking for their first trip to state since 2005, will now face Liberty Union (18-6) in the Division III regional title game today at Elida MS at 5pm.
SCORE BY INNINGS R H E
M. Edison 000 011 000 00 2 6 4
Archbold 100 001 000 01 3 11 2
Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com