League contenders Edison, Norwalk split doubleheader

NORWALK — A realistic, pleasing result. That was the prevailing thought by both dugouts after Edison played Norwalk on Saturday in a non-conference baseball doubleheader at Norwalk High School. Both the Chargers and Truckers are consistent winners on a yearly basis, and 2021 is no different. Both teams are playing for Sandusky Bay Conference championships this week in the Bay and Lake Divisions, respectively. The Truckers (13-8) won Game 1 on a walk-off base hit for a 3-2 victory in a well-played game, then the Chargers (12-7) put up six runs in the top of the first inning for a 9-5 win in Game 2. "I think anytime you have a doubleheader between two good teams, the hope is you at least split," Edison coach Sean Hoover said. "We were able to really swing the bats well and put together a nice start there in Game 2 and we got the split." The loss in the second game snapped a five-game win streak by the Truckers. "That was our third doubleheader that we won the first one and did not play real clean in losing the second game," Norwalk coach Wes Douglas said. "But they really came out swinging in Game 2, and sometimes you have to give a good team like that credit for putting the ball in play the way they did. "It's always a good matchup with Edison," he added. "They are always very well-coached and the kids from each team know each other well through travel teams." In the opener, Thomas Gfell started the bottom of the seventh with a shallow fly single to centerfield on a 3-2 pitch. Andrew Bundschuh was put in as a pinch runner for Gfell, and Jesse Cole sacrifice bunted him to second base. With first open, the Chargers opted to intentionally walk leadoff hitter Sam Battles. Caleb Sommers then ended the game with an RBI single to center, which scored Bundschuh. Edison had tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh. Bryce Michaelis led off the inning with a single. He was sacrifice bunted to second, though Norwalk starter Buddy Baker got a pop out to right that held Michaelis at second base. But with two outs, Clint Finnen singled on a line drive to left, which scored Michaelis. The Truckers then got a force out at second on the next batter to end the half inning. Norwalk opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second. Gfell singled and scored on a two-out single by Sommers, then Eli Obringer followed with a double to put runners at second and third with two outs. On a 1-1 pitch, Sommers was then able to score on a passed ball to give the Truckers a 2-1 lead. Edison came right back with a run in the top of the fourth. The Chargers loaded the bases with no outs on two errors and a single by Thomas Simon, then Brady Barker grounded into a fielder's choice to plate Finnen. But Baker — who continued his emergence as a reliable pitcher — was able to get an infield pop out and a strikeout on a 3-2 pitch to get out of the jam for the Truckers. The junior went all seven innings and allowed one earned run on six hits. He struck out four and walked one on 86 pitches, which included 53 strikes. It was a solid outing all the way around for Baker, as he was ahead in the count just over half the time (16 first-pitch strikes to 29 batters). Following Saturday, Baker is 4-1 with a 1.74 ERA for the Truckers. He's struck out just 18 with 13 walks in 32 2/3 innings, but has allowed only eight earned runs on 39 hits. "Based on the way Edison swung it in the second game, Buddy must have been doing a lot right today," Douglas said. "He holds runners well and picked off another one today — he's that classic, soft-throwing lefty. "His composure was good, and we got a nice rally in the bottom of the seventh for the win." Freshman Blake Simon was equally impressive for Edison. He allowed two earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and a walk on 83 pitches (61 strikes). Hoover wasn't disappointed in the loss. "That was just a solid, clean game," he said. "We score in the top of the seventh to tie it and they got it back. We played a really clean game defensively — they just got one more hit with a guy on base." Edison wasted no time rebounding in the second game. Luke Bissell hit into a fielder's choice and was safe at first, then Barker singled and Noah Smith hit a two-run double off Norwalk starter Eli Obringer. Dominic Dymond followed with an RBI double to make it 3-0, then he scored on an RBI single by Michaelis. Hayden Fry followed with a single, and Michaelis came around to score on a wild pitch for the fifth run. Having batted around, Edison capped the inning with an RBI single by Finnen for the 6-0 lead. After Ian Minor doubled and scored on an RBI single by Nate Adelman to make it 6-1, the Chargers came back with three more in the top half of the third. Fry doubled and Keegan Smith was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then Finnen and Bissell followed with RBI singles for an 8-1 lead. Barker grounded into a double play, but Finnen scored from third for a 9-1 advantage. The Truckers responded with four runs to pull within 9-5 after five innings, and had runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. However, freshman Carson Smith was able to deny Norwalk the big hit it needed to make the game a save situation. "We threw two freshmen who were starting in a varsity game for the first time," Hoover said. "I thought they competed really well and did enough for us to win both games." Edison (7-1 Bay) is tied for first place with Huron in the league. It needs a win over Margaretta at home and at Oak Harbor on Monday and Wednesday — if the weather holds — to earn at least a share of the league title. The Chargers scored 43 runs in five games for the week. "I really liked our approach at the plate this week," Hoover said. "We just have to keep that same mentality in the box. We win them both and we at least split. I prefer to win two and not need any help. "Our guys will come out ready to go. They know if we take care of business we will have no worse than a share." Meanwhile, Norwalk (6-3 Lake) is one game behind Vermilion (16-5, 9-2) and is scheduled to host the Sailors on Monday. Vermilion has already clinched a share and goes for an outright title, while the Truckers need wins on Monday, vs. Bellevue on Wednesday and at Clyde on Thursday. "We had a shot (in the second game), just didn't come through with the big hit we needed those last couple innings to keep the pressure on them," Douglas said. "We'll have to shake this off and see what the weather does. But I like our team, and we'll take our chances."