By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
ARCHBOLD (April 17, 2025) – Archbold secured a big league win over Bryan on Thursday night, behind an impressive performance from their ace, Zach Short. Short was dominant throughout his six innings, recording a whopping fourteen strikeouts while only giving up three runs on two hits.
Short wasn’t the only pitcher showcasing his ability. Bryan’s Carter Dominique also had a solid performance, giving up four runs on three hits, but striking out nine Bluestreaks through six innings.
The first inning was quiet offensively for both sides, with Archbold going three up and three down, as Dominique and Short both recorded two strikeouts in the inning.
Bryan showed some life in the top of the second. Jacob Uran and Masen Welling both reached base on walks, and Cam Bukowski recorded a single. With the bases loaded and two outs, Carlin struck out swinging, leaving the runners stranded.
Archbold’s second inning saw another three up and three down. With the top of their lineup struggling to start the game, it looked like it was going to be hard for Archbold to accumulate many runs.
Bryan followed with a three up and three down third inning. Through three innings, Short had already recorded seven K’s, showcasing his ability to fluster the Golden Bear batters.
The scoring started in the bottom of the third for the Bluestreaks. Kole Boettger and Max Burrows started the inning with reaching base on walks.
Collin Short followed up with a well struck double into center field, bringing home both runners, giving Archbold a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, the Golden Bears had an opportunity to enter the scoring column. With Uran being walked and Hunter Muehlfeld reaching base on a dropped third strike, Welling stepped up to the plate.
Welling grounded out on a ball to the second baseman, leaving runners stranded again for the Golden Bears. Runs were hard to come by in the game, and Bryan was having trouble capitalizing with runners in scoring position.
Archbold scored their third run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. CJ Arroyo-Thompson walked to start the inning, and he advanced to second on an error by the catcher Bukowski.
With Arroyo-Thompson on second, Zach Short hit a hard grounder to second baseman Tucker Miller, who made an error on the throw, which allowed Arroyo-Thompson to cross home plate and extend the Archbold lead to 3-0 after four.
Bryan had three straight batters retired in the fifth, as Zach Short continued to look dominant. On the other hand, Archbold had secured another run in the bottom of the fifth. Arroyo-Thompson hit a line drive single to left, plating Collin Short, extending the lead to 4-0.
The sixth inning saw more dominance on the mound, as Zach Short secured three more Ks and Dominique secured two, with no runners crossing the plate for either team in the inning.
With the top of the seventh starting, Archbold was three outs away from securing a shutout league win. After six innings of dominance and control, Zach Short had a rough final inning.
The inning started with two batters being hit by a pitch, immediately giving the Golden Bears rally life. Dominique was then walked, which loaded the bases for Bryan.
With one out, the bases loaded and a 0-2 count, Carter Luce ripped a deep fly ball to center, securing a three RBI double. Just like that, the Golden Bears were one run away from tying the game, with a runner in scoring position.
After surrendering those three runs, Archbold called it a night for Zach Short and they brought in Jace Castillo to finish on the mound.
This was clearly the right call, as Castillo struck out the final two batters of the game, putting an end to Bryan’s rally and securing the win.
With the win, Archbold remains undefeated in league play and will look to stay in the winning column when they play Perrysburg on Saturday. Bryan will look to bounce back as they play Southview on Saturday.
BHS 000 000 3 – 3 3 3
AHS 002 110 x – 4 3 2
Records: BHS 6-3, 1-1 NWOAL; AHS 5-2, 2-0 NWOAL
WINNING PITCHER: Z. Short (6.1 innings, 2 hits, 3 runs, 14 strikeouts, 6 walks) Other: Castillo
LOSING PITCHER: Dominique (6 innings, 3 hits, 4 runs, 9 strikeouts, 4 walks)
LEADING HITTERS: (Bryan) Luce – double, 3 RBIs; Bukowski – single; Dominique – single (Archbold) C. Short – double, single, 2 RBIs; Arroyo-Thompson – single, RBI