TOUCH’EM ALL … Bryan senior Kailee Thiel hits a three-run homer to give Bryan a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning. VIEW 105 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
WAUSEON (April 26, 2024) – Wauseon coach Ralph Leija III faced a tough decision in the top of the fifth inning of Friday night’s NWOAL clash with Bryan.
The Indians had just scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead over the Bears, the first time Bryan has trailed in NWOAL play, and had momentum on their side.
Bryan’s Thea Staten was coming to the plate with a runner on and two outs, having already hit a solo home run in the first inning and then was intentionally walked in the fourth.
The Indians stuck with the strategy of intentionally walking Staten to bring the go-ahead run to the dish in the form of senior Kailee Thiel.
After getting ahead in the count 2-0, Thiel drove the next pitch over the left field fence for a three-run homer to put Bryan back in front 5-3 as the Golden Bears went on for the win and clinched at least a share of their second straight league title.
The title is the fourth in program history and they can win it outright with a win over Swanton on Monday.
While Staten continued her dominance in the circle of late through the first three innings, she also had a hand in Bryan’s first two runs of the night.
After the aforementioned solo homer in the first, Staten started the fourth by being intentionally walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and then stole third.
After a Thiel fly out, Mackenzie Blevins laid down a bunt single towards second base which allowed Staten to score and make it 2-0.
Wauseon would do their damage in the bottom of the inning as Kylerr Bronson and Ava Kovar opened the frame with singles.
Danica Pack would then get her second hit of the night, this one a double to left to clear the bases and tie things at 2-2.
Wauseon starting pitcher Ella Hageman then flied out to center but two subsequent errors by Bryan after the catch allowed Pack to score all the way from second to give Wauseon a 3-2 lead.
Staten would then end the inning by recording two of her 14 strikeouts on the night and retired Wauseon in the fifth and sixth innings before the Indians made things interesting in the seventh.
The final frame started relatively easy for Staten as she induced groundouts from Aubrianna Everly and Abby Kissel for the first two outs.
Bella McGuire kept the inning alive by drawing a walk after a 12-pitch at bat and then Brianna Hays would walk to bring the winning run to the plate.
Staten then found her groove again as she would get Layla Martinez on a foul tip for strike three to end the threat.
Hageman took the loss for Wauseon after going 4 2/3 innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
BRYAN 100 130 0 – 5 8 2
WAUSEON 000 300 0 – 3 5 0
Records: Bryan 11-5 (5-0 NWOAL), Wauseon 10-7 (4-2 NWOAL)
WINNING PITCHER: Staten (7 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, 14 strikeouts, 3 walks)
LOSING PITCHER: Hageman (4.2 innings, 7 hits, 5 runs, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks) OTHER: Ledyard
LEADING HITTERS: (Wauseon) Pack – double, single, 2 RBIs; (Bryan) Staten – home run, RBI, 3 runs; Thiel – home run, 3 RBIs; Vollmer – double
