BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Norwalk holds off Columbian in Lake opener

TIFFIN — Visiting Norwalk used a four-run top of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and claim a 5-2 victory in Wednesday's SBC Lake Division opener at Tiffin Columbian. Eli Obringer singled and advanced to second on the throw, then to third on a passed ball before scoring on a dropped third strike for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first for the Truckers (2-1, 1-0). Columbian tied it with a run in the bottom of the fifth, but Norwalk had the quick answer in the top of the sixth. Obringer singled and Nate Adelman walked with one out, followed by a single from Ian Minor to load the bases. Caleb Sommers and Thomas Gfell both walked to force in two runs for a 3-1 lead, then a Columbian error on a fly ball to center allowed Minor and Sommers to score for a 5-1 advantage. The Tornadoes then scored a run and had bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Minor, pitching in relief, induced a fly out and a ground out to end the game. "Definitely a lot of action there in those last two innings," Norwalk coach Wes Douglas said. "There were only eight strikeouts total today, as both teams put the ball in play hard. We were a little cleaner than they were with no errors and some great plays. "It was a quality team win on the road against a good team." Adelman was 2 for 3 with a triple, scored once and drove in a run to pace the Norwalk offense. Obringer was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and Minor was 2 for 4 and scored once. Gfell started and threw 6 1/3 strong innings to get the win. He allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits, all singles, with four strikeouts and a walk. After Minor hit a batter, he then recorded the final two outs. Norwalk will host Lexington in a doubleheader with an 11 a.m. start on Saturday. Norwalk 100 004 0 — 5 7 1 Columbian 000 010 1 — 2 8 1 WP: Gfell; LP: Mellott 3B: (N) Adelman Tiffin Calvert 8, St. Paul 2 NORWALK — Five errors and seven walks proved costly to the Flyers in Wednesday's non-league loss to the Senecas at Contractors Park. Leading 3-2 through four innings, the Senecas put the game away with five runs over the final three innings. Eli Fisher was 2 for 4 and scored a run for St. Paul (3-2), while Scotty Adelman singled and drove in a run. Luke Blum doubled and scored, while Tyler Perkins and Drew Kuhnle each singled. Adelman started and took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and five walks in 4 2/3 innings of work. He was relieved by Kaden Maxwell, who allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. Nick Seifert limited the Flyers to two runs (one earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk inn pitching all seven innings. "They took an early lead on us and we were just not able to keep pace," St. Paul coach Aaron Fries said. "Calvert did a good job of capitalizing on our mistakes. We were not sharp in the field and they took advantage of the opportunities with some timely hitting. Calvert is a very good team and we did not defend well enough to keep up." St. Paul is scheduled to play a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Sycamore Mohawk. Calvert 102 021 2 — 8 8 1 St. Paul 011 000 0 — 2 6 5 WP: Seifert; LP: Adelman 2B: (SP) Blum Danbury 12, Monroeville 9 MONROEVILLE — The Eagles were unable to hold a 7-5 lead through five innings in Wednesday's non-league loss to the Lakers at Clark Park. Braden Chapman was 2 for 3 and drove in three runs for the Eagles (0-2), while Duncan Steward had two hits and an RBI, and Daniel Smith added two hits and scored twice. Also for Monroeville, Austin Nichols doubled and drove in two runs, while Meritt Key had a double and scored twice, and Toby Tester had a single and an RBI. Trevor Schafer went the first five innings and did not factor into the decision. He allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Danbury 011 127 0 — 12 11 2 Monroeville 110 232 0 — 9 10 4 WP: Rigdon; LP: Chapman 2B: (D) Conrad, Zelms; (M) Key, Nichols Port Clinton 4, W. Reserve 3 (9 inn.) PORT CLINTON — Visiting Western Reserve held a 9-2 advantage in hits, but came up a run short on the scoreboard in Wednesday's nine-inning non-league loss to the Redskins. Grant Bethard singled and drove in Western's lone run in the loss. Carson Roe and Chris Buchanan each finished 2 for 4 and scored a run, while Logan Wiegel also doubled and scored. Matt Jarrett and Jude Muenz each added singles for Western (0-5). Buchanan started and went the first seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits with one strikeout and four walks. W. Reserve 000 120 000 — 3 9 2 Port Clinton 001 000 201 — 4 2 2 WP: Miller; LP: Jarrett 2B: (WR) Wiegel; (PC) George Columbia 9, W. Reserve 2 COLLINS — Visiting Columbia scored six runs in the final two innings of Tuesday's non-league win over the host Roughriders (0-4). Kaden Boswell and Jude Muenz each singled and had an RBI for Western, which also got a double from Logan Wiegel and a single from Carson Roe. On the mound, Roe allowed six runs, just one earned, in six innings. He gave up six hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Columbia 111 003 3 — 9 9 0 W. Reserve 000 200 0 — 2 5 3 WP: Stair; LP: Roe 2B: (C) Mense, Campana, Grzymna, Danis; (WR) Wiegel