Another MAC dandy

ELIDA - The first meeting between Coldwater and Minster was a one-run victory for Minster.

The way the teams played on Thursday, another one-run margin was likely.

Justin Nixon's double with one out in the top of the ninth scored Eric Schmidt and then Schmidt retired the Cavaliers in order in the bottom of the inning to give the Wildcats a 5-4 victory in the Division III district baseball semifinal at Ed Sandy Field in Elida.

The Wildcats (16-10) now face Eastwood on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the district final. The Eagles (25-3) defeated Allen East 3-0 in the second semifinal of the day.

"We were 6-7 at one point and now we're 16-10," said Wiss. "Five weeks ago, I don't think (a district title game) was in anyone's thoughts, let alone beating Coldwater twice in a year. We had great crowd support here."

"Mike's a good friend of mine," said Coldwater coach Brian Harlamert, who was teammates with Wiss on the University of Dayton baseball team. "It was a great environment. It was tough to lose it, but if you have to lose a game in the tournament, better to lose it to a friend."

The third inning provided all the offense in regulation as Minster plated four in the top of the inning and Coldwater responded. Adam Ketner drew a bases-loaded walk off the Cavaliers' Reece Dellinger to bring in the first run of the day, followed by Johnny Nixon socking a laser up the middle for a two-run single. The final Minster run came on a throwing error.

But that was all Dellinger would allow as he scattered six hits and two walks over seven innings with nine strikeouts.

"How many times have you seen pitchers max out (on pitch count)?" said Harlamert. "Reece kept battling. He was sharp and Johnny was sharp."

Coldwater (21-8) quickly countered in the bottom of the third off of Johnny Nixon. Myles Blasingame singled home Justin Hartings for the first run, and with the bases loaded, Luke Sudhoff doubled home two runs, but pinch-runner Keegan Bruggeman was thrown out at the plate for the second out. Although Marcel Blasingame followed with a double to score Sudhoff, the out proved huge as the game was tied rather than a 5-4 Coldwater lead.

"Say what you will, this game started out similar (to the game) we played earlier in the year," said Wiss. "We had a 4-0 lead after the third. Coldwater answered right away (Minster held on 4-3). (Today) in my head, I was thinking 'We just woke a giant up.' "

Johnny Nixon returned to form, not allowing a hit for the final 4 2/3 innings he pitched before getting pulled when reaching his pitch count. The Minster junior walked one, hit two and struck out six before Schmidt came on.

"Johnny competed his butt off in (the third inning)," said Wiss. "They had two balls over Eric's head (in center). After that, Johnny settled down. Johnny and Reece pitched their butts off today. That's MAC baseball right there."

The Cavaliers had a chance to win it in regulation in the bottom of the seventh as Alex Knapke reached on an error and ended up at second. Braylen Harlamert came in to run for Knapke and Hartings dropped a sacrifice bunt. Harlamert got caught too far off third and the throw back to third was on target for the unique 5-3-5 double play. The out proved costly as Zack McKibben reached on an error that would have likely scored the winning run, but instead Johnny Nixon ended the threat by striking out Myles Blasingame.

"That was like 'Oh, my!' " said Wiss of the double play. "In turn, we gave them some things (Minster committed four errors) by not making a few plays."

Marcel Blasingame came on and got through the eighth unscathed. In the ninth, Schmidt led off by drawing a walk. Ketner bunted Schmidt to second. Coldwater chose to walk Johnny Nixon, who had two hits in the game, to face older brother Justin Nixon, who took an 0-1 offering to deep center, scoring Schmidt as Johnny Nixon stopped at third. Wiss called on Zach Fortman to try a squeeze bunt, and it appeared that Johnny Nixon was tagged out on a rundown, but the umpires called a foul ball. The Wildcats were unable to capitalize as Fortman grounded back to the mound and Luke Ripploh flew out to right to end the threat.

Schmidt promptly struck out Josh Kaup before getting Knapke to ground to third for two quick outs. Hartings swung at strike three to end the game.

"I told them 'We didn't lose that game. They beat us,'" said coach Harlamert. "Both teams competed. All year long, our team motto was 'Every Pitch Matters.' You saw that with every pitch for 2 1/2 hours. Tip your hat for a good effort from both teams."