Late rally lifts Archbold over Celina

CELINA - Two outs were all that separated Celina from the program's third state ACME baseball title in history as the Bulldogs held fast to a 2-0 lead on Archbold.

Archbold wasn't ready to concede.

The Blue Streaks scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the 2016 Dale Harter Memorial Championship game with a 3-2 win on Monday at Montgomery Field to claim their first ACME state title since 1978.

"We had them the whole game," Celina coach Scott Montgomery said. "Unfortunately, Seth (Lonsway) threw his 10th inning (pitchers are only allowed to pitch 10 innings over three days) and we had to bring in a fresh arm. They got guys on base and ended up scoring three runs.

"I'm proud of the guys," Montgomery continued. "There's nothing bad I can say. We got here automatically (as host of the tournament after losing in the sectional), but we proved we can play with every team in the state."

Archbold (26-5), which had to rally from being down 3-0 to Van Wert in Sunday's semifinal to win 4-3 in eight innings, made the plays on defense to keep Celina from adding runs in key situations. Toby Walker came up with the clutch single, hitting an infield single down the first base line to score Holden Galvan for the winning run.

Celina (19-9), trying to win its first ACME title since 1988, gave the home fans who packed Montgomery Field plenty to cheer about in the first-inning run when Seth Lonsway tripled home Shawn Rose.

Archbold took advantage of Celina's being unable to lay down a bunt on two occasions. In the fourth, Celina had runners on first and third with nobody out, but Nate Kirk's bunt attempt was popped up to catcher Gabe Peterson, who threw to third to force out Kole Murlin for the double play.

The Bulldogs added a run in the fifth when Grant Wagner scored when Gabe Peterson's throw down to third was wild. But Celina could not take advantage of a first-and-third situation when Murlin lined out to end the inning.

Celina's best chance to add runs came in the sixth when Jake Smalley singled, Kirk was hit by a pitch and Gabe Perry's bunt resulted in all hands being safe. Archbold's Sam Peterson, who had pitched Saturday, came on in the fifth and struck out Bryce Monnin as he tried to bunt for the third time after having fouled two previous times. Smalley was caught too far off third on the squeeze attempt and was tagged by Gabe Peterson for the second out. Wagner grounded out to end the inning.

"There were definitely opportunities for us to score a few more runs," Montgomery said. "Unfortunately, the ball didn't fall in our court."

"We banked on our defense all summer long," Archbold coach Kirk Weldy said. "I told them with Lonsway (pitching), if we can hold them, we can make something happen. Our defense came up big every single time."

While Celina struggled to add runs, Lonsway kept the Blue Streaks from scoring in his final six innings available after having pitched four innings of no-hit baseball on Saturday. The Ohio State-committed southpaw was not as sharp as he had been on Saturday, but he scattered just three hits and a walk while striking out six before having to yield the mound after the sixth.

"We stayed around to watch Celina (on Saturday). You hear the buzz and have to see him. I think the kids knew that (Lonsway would pitch six innings on Monday) and used that as strategy," Weldy said. "That kid has a big future for him. He plays hard."

Rose, who had pitched in relief on Saturday and Sunday, came on to wrap up the title in the seventh. Wagner clinched the first out with a diving catch on Ian Radabaugh's fly ball, but Gabe Peterson doubled to center. In what Montgomery said was to set up a force play, Celina walked Trevor Rupp to face Brandon Miller, who had two of the three Blue Streak hits coming into the inning. Rose walked Miller on four pitches to load the bases for Kade Kern, who blooped a single to right-center to score Gabe Peterson to end the shutout and keep the bases loaded. Nic Rodriguez grounded to second baseman Nate Kirk, who threw home to try and get the force at the plate, but the throw was high to tie the game and kept the bases loaded for Walker. After taking a ball, Walker grounded the next pitch down the first base line, getting past Reid Harter as pinch-runner Galvan slid into home for the winning run.

"I was thinking with one out and guys at first and second, we have a force at any base and a better chance to roll a double play to end the game," Montgomery said. "Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I don't know what else to say."

"We told the kids to play to the last out of this tournament, and they did," Weldy said. "They never gave up. That's one thing I can credit to them 100 percent."

Lonsway, who had struck out 17 batters in 10 innings in the state tournament and 37 in three postseason starts, was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Joining Lonsway on the All-Tournament team were Celina teammates Isaiah Eichler, Murlin and Shawn Rose. Archbold's Sam Peterson, Radabaugh and Miller, Fairview's Austin Meyer and Van Wert's Caleb Fetzer made up the rest of the nine-player team.