Norwalk tops Tornadoes in seventh

TIFFIN — The Norwalk baseball team continued its winning ways with a late run Wednesday. The Truckers erased a 2-0 deficit with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning, then pushed across a run in the top of the seventh for a 3-2 win over host Tiffin Columbian for an SBC Lake Division win. Norwalk improved to 6-2 overall with the win, and are 3-0 in the league entering a big game Thursday at Perkins (7-2, 2-1). The Truckers were held to the three runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out seven times against Columbian standout ace Isaiah Tilse. "We knew it was going to be a battle against him, and he is as competitive as they come," Norwalk head coach Jason Higgins said of Tilse. "We got down early, but stayed with our plan at the plate. We have been talking about someone stepping up in a close game and having a big opportunity." That happened in the top of the seventh when freshman Noah Helton — who was also outstanding on the mound — led off with a single on a 3-1 pitch to centerfield. Kaedyn Warner put down the sacrifice bunt to advance Helton to second, then leadoff hitter Isaiah Wells jumped on the first pitch he saw for a single to left. The ball was then misplayed, allowing Helton to score the go-ahead run. Wesley Shupe needed 16 pitches (11 strikes) to retire the side in the bottom of the seventh for the save. Helton went the first six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits. He struck out five and walked two. "Noah threw a great game and our defense made some big plays," Higgins said. "Wesley came in and shut the door for us." Down 2-0 in the top of the fifth, Landon Ferkel singled and Helton walked to start the inning. Warner again advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt, and Caiden Wilson grounded out to second to score Ferkel and move Helton to third. Wells then tied the game with an RBI single to third, which allowed Helton to score. Norwalk 000 020 1 — 3 6 2 Columbian 110 000 0 — 2 3 2 WP: Helton; LP: Tilse 3B: (TC) Bremyer Edison 5, Vermilion 2 VERMILION — The Division V No. 2-ranked Chargers picked up a key SBC Bay Division road win over the host Sailors on Wednesday. Cole Leimeister finished 3 for 3 with a double and drove in four of the five runs for Edison, which improved to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the league. Abe Hermes singled and drove in the fifth run, and combined with Bryson Wittmer to pick up the win on the mound. Hermes went four innings and allowed one earned run on three hits with 10 strikeouts and one walk. Wittmer pitched the other three and allowed an unearned run on two hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Edison hosts Seneca East Thursday and Upper Sandusky Friday to finish the week with non-league games. Edison 101 201 0 — 5 9 0 Vermilion 001 010 0 — 2 5 2 WP: Hermes; LP: Schwark 2B: (E) Leimeister, Price; (V) Schwark Huron 12, Willard 1 HURON — The Crimson Flashes were held to one run on three hits to fall to 1-9 overall and 0-3 in the SBC Bay Division after Wednesday's loss to the host Tigers. Grant Poston was 2 for 3 with an RBI and Elijah Reed added a single for Willard, which visits Galion in a non-league game Saturday. Willard 000 01 — 1 3 1 Huron 250 5x — 12 10 0 WP: Fresch; LP: D. Reed 2B: (H) Hohler, Cox, Barrett New London 18, Mapleton 9 ORANGE TWP. — The Wildcats (1-6, 1-2) scored 10 times in the top of the seventh and scored 17 of their 18 runs over the final three innings of a Firelands Conference win over the Mounties Wednesday. The game was stopped in the middle of the seventh inning Tuesday because of darkness. Joe Gum was 3 for 5 with three RBIs for the Wildcats. Brody Sword doubled twice with three RBIs, while Gabe Ellis, Oliver Harrison and Matthew Miller each had two hits and two RBIs. N. London 001 070 (10) — 18 12 5 Mapleton 050 031 x — 9 8 3 WP: O. Harrison; LP: Wrobleski 2B: (NL) Sword 2, O. Harrison