Bulldogs edge Redskins in WBL play

CELINA - Another close game and the result was the same for the Celina baseball team - a win.

Jimmy Luebke tossed seven innings of four-hit baseball, the Bulldogs staged a pair of two-out rallies to produce runs and then held off Wapakoneta's seventh-inning charge to pull out a 2-1 Western Buckeye League victory Friday night at Montgomery Field.

It was Celina's fourth straight league win decided by two runs or fewer.

"It impresses the hell out of us, because we're young," Celina coach Andy Mikesell said. "I mean, we only have two seniors. We only have three guys, maybe four if you count Kevin (McGohan), with varsity experience. They're pulling out games like this, and that's huge for these young guys."

Stephen Fleck's two-out single in the first inning scored Justin Keeling, who reached on an error and moved to second on a single by Luebke, one of his two hits on the day.

Wapak put the tying runner on second in the fourth, but Keeling made a diving grab to throw out Nate Kaeck at first base to keep the score at 1-0. That was the closest the Redskins came in the first four innings.

After recording eight ground-ball outs and allowing just three baserunners through the first five innings, Luebke had to gut it out the rest of the way for the victory.

In the sixth, the Redskins had the tying runner on second again with two outs after Quinn Lotridge singled and stole second. Luebke, however, got cleanup hitter Adam Henderson to hit a soft grounder to first for the final out.

Celina used a pair of walks in the bottom of the sixth to put runners on first and second. Jacob Smalley followed with a two-out bloop single to center field to drive home Fleck for a 2-0 lead.

Kaeck opened the seventh with a single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Michael Burton gave the Redskins their only run with an RBI single and then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Luebke walked Maddux Liles to put the go-ahead runner on first and all hands were safe on Nick Bruns' fielder's choice to load the bases with one out.

Last Friday, Celina allowed Bath to put the tying runners on second and third with no outs in the seventh, and didn't allow a run to secure a 5-3 win. Faced with a similar situation a week later, Luebke forced a popout and groundout to shut the door on Wapak.

"It's his year. It's his ballgame," said Mikesell of Luebke, who finished with two strikeouts and only two walks. "He's a grinder. He stepped up from a leadership perspective, as far as being able carry the team when he needs to. He's done it big time, especially tonight."

Kaeck threw all six innings, allowing four hits, one earned run and striking out six for the Redskins, who were dealt their second loss in league play.

On Tuesday comes the main event as Celina travels to play Grand Lake rival St. Marys with sole possession of first place in the WBL on the line.

"I'm glad that the rivalry is kind of built up now," Mikesell said. "We're playing some decent ball. They've been playing good ball for the past two years. I'm excited. I got a chance to go watch them (Thursday). We saw (Roughrider pitcher) (Nathan) Wilker last year. I know he's gotten better. We saw (Derek) Jay (Thursday). I know Seth (Lonsway) will be ready to go for that game. He'll be pretty pumped. It's a rivalry. These guys will be ready for it."

Before that, the Bulldogs travel to play in the Fort Loramie Invitational today. They play Minster in the opening game this morning at 10 a.m. with the winner advancing to the final.