Balanced Perkins visits Norwalk for SBC title share

NORWALK — This isn't the first time. And surely it won't be the last time. The boys and girls Sandusky Bay Conference championships are on the line Wednesday at Contractors Stadium when Perkins takes on the host Truckers. The boys match will start at 5 p.m., followed by the girls match about 30 minutes later. The Norwalk boys team enter the match at 9-3-2 overall and 6-0-1 in the SBC. Perkins comes to town with a record of 10-2-1 overall and 6-0-1 in the league. Both teams tied Vermilion in SBC play. After Wednesday, the Pirates still have a league match on Oct. 7 against Old Fort (4-9-1, 2-4-1). Meanwhile, the Truckers play their league finale the same day at Port Clinton (7-3, 4-2). As a result, the winner of Wednesday's match will have clinched no worse than a share of the league championship, while the loser will need help on that final day of league play. Last season, the Pirates went 15-2-1 overall and were the outright SBC champions after finishing unbeaten in league play, including a 3-0 win in the pouring rain over the Truckers at home. In 2022, the two teams shared the league title after the Pirates got a stunning goal with two seconds left in a 2-1 win. "I think it is a credit to both programs that it seems like every time we play something is on the line," first-year Norwalk head coach Chris Schnell said. "Whether that be a conference championship or a tournament title. Coach Paul (Lea) has really created a system over in Perkins that every year he reloads and has a competitive team. "But also credit has to be given to (former head coach) Wes Sellers and (assistant) Coach (Troy) Pittenger here at Norwalk. They helped create the environment here that has led to our success this year." Schnell said the Pirates are simply a solid team in all facets. Entering Monday's match at Huron, Kaden Camp leads the SBC in scoring with 19 goals and Ryan Wells is tied for the lead in assists (8). "They have scorers up top," he said. "They have a group of solid midfielders who can win a ball and can put a pass where they want to. They have defenders who will put the clamps on a good offense. "And they also have a good goalkeeper in Danny Buga, who will make the saves when he needs to. As a freshman, he is at the top of the league in saves (43). They are a very balanced team." Norwalk's Jose Negrete is also near the top with Buga with 45 saves at goalkeeper. Along with Mason Gamble (three goals, two assists) as one of the league's top defenders, the Truckers have nine shutouts this season in 13 matches. Offensively, Ben Snyder leads a balanced Norwalk scoring attack with 11 goals. Elliot Gahring has 1- goals and four assists, while Connor Nickle adds five goals and five assists. Landon Ferkel has eight goals and four assists, and Juan Martinez has five assists. As for Wednesday's matchup, Schnell said the team that wins will be the team that wins the most "50/50" balls. "It will be the team that controls the game," he said. "If we can control the game, there is a very good chance that we are happy with the result at the end of the match."