Tuesday, May 16th, 2017

Bulldogs down Cavaliers 14-3

By Gary R. Rasberry
Photo by Nick Wenning/The Daily Standard

Coldwater's Sam Broering, 11, reaches for the ball as Celina's Josh Kuehne slides into second base during Monday's non-conference baseball game at Veterans Field in Coldwater.

COLDWATER - With both teams needing a tune-up game before the district semifinals later this week, Coldwater hosted Celina on the Cavaliers' Senior Day at Veterans Field.
After the five Coldwater seniors were honored, it became a Bulldog kind of day as Celina improved to 18-6 with a 14-3 win over their Mercer County neighbors.
"That was kind of our objective," Celina coach Andy Mikesell said. "We didn't get all the rotations we wanted because some guys were sick or injured. It was good to see us hit and want to hit and be confident."
For Coldwater coach Brian Harlamert, the score and stats weren't as important as honoring the seniors and getting some work in.
"We wanted to play a game to get our guys out there and compete for two reasons: one was to keep playing after having the weekend off. Two was for our seniors (Dylan Thobe, Alex Klosterman, Dylan Brosher, Ryan Knapke and Tyler Hemmelgarn). This was their day."
After scoring one run in the top of the first, Celina put the game away with six runs in the third off Cavalier starter Dylan Brosher. Kole Murlin, Tanner Freeman and Parker Maurer had consecutive RBI singles to lead the Celina attack.
The Bulldogs added four more runs in the fourth off Cav reliever Brad Giere. Murlin added a two-run single and Freeman had another RBI single.
Nate Kirk started for Celina and pitched three innings of one-hit, two-walk baseball before handing the ball to Freeman, who allowed a run in the fourth when Nathan Grunden scored on a wild pitch. In the fifth, Coldwater avoided the run-rule thanks to pinch-hitters Cole Frilling, who singled, and Jake Wenning, who doubled in Frilling to cut the deficit margin to nine.
Celina added three runs in the top of the seventh as Bransen Miller tripled in Ethan Piper and Kirk. Shawn Rose brought in pinch-runner Alex Borger with a fly to center.
Rose, who relieved Freeman with one out in the fifth, allowed one last Cavalier run before closing out the game.
"Tanner hadn't pitched in a week-and-a-half and was able to get a couple innings," Mikesell said. "Shawn got some work to get everything ready for Thursday."
Murlin went 4-for-5 with three RBIs for Celina. Freeman had three hits and three RBIs and Rose and Isaiah Eichler each had two hits.
Grunden had two of the six Coldwater base hits. Wenning and Brosher each had a double.
Celina travels to Patrick Henry High School on Thursday for Division II district semifinal action against top-ranked Wapakoneta at 2 p.m. Coldwater is scheduled for another tune-up game today with Van Wert before traveling to Ed Sandy Field in Elida on Thursday for a 4 p.m. Division III district semifinal game against Lima Central Catholic.
Photo by Nick Wenning/The Daily Standard

Celina's Kole Murlin waits on the ball during Monday's game.

Additional online story on this date
WAPAKONETA - Celina resident Jennifer Hurlburt was surprised when she learned she'd been nominated for a national award and even more surprised when she found out she'd won. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Board considers possible solutions
CELINA - The district will enter deficit spending in fiscal year 2018, which begins July 1, according to Celina City Schools Treasurer Tom Sommer's most recent five-year forecast.
Pay raises included in 3-year contract
MINSTER - School board members and Minster Teachers Association members have agreed on a new three-year contract that includes raises each year.
Su
FORT RECOVERY - Village officials are considering creating an outdoor zone around the brick street area that would allow patrons to carry alcoholic beverages outside of establishments.
MINSTER - Greenville pitcher Baylee Petry has tasted perfection twice before.
She tasted it again on Monday.
The freshman ace threw five perfect innings with one strikeout as the Green Wave - ranked third in Division II - run-ruled Minster 10-0 at Four Seasons Park.
Compiled by Colin Foster and Gary R. Rasberry
The Wright State University-Lake Campus baseball team opened play in the 2017 USCAA Small College World Series with a 17-5 loss in six innings to Penn State University-DuBois on Monday night in Glens Falls, New York.