BASEBALL: Norwalk hands state-ranked Crawford its first loss
May 14—NORTH ROBINSON — The Norwalk baseball team picked up a big non-league road win on Thursday in a tune-up for its Division II tournament game next week.
The Truckers handed Division III No. 4-ranked Colonel Crawford its first loss of the season after 22 consecutive wins with a 5-1 victory over the Eagles (22-1).
With the win, Norwalk improved to 16-10 overall, and will also visit Div. I Ashland next Tuesday ahead of its May 21 sectional championship game vs. Perkins (13-10) at NHS.
After winning five straight games, the Truckers then lost three straight games from May 1-6. But Norwalk has since won three straight, including Thursday's win as well as a 1-0 win over SBC Lake champion and Fremont district top seed Vermilion (18-6).
"This team has been streaky for sure, but it's mostly been our defense," Norwalk coach Wes Douglas said. "When we don't give extra outs, we are pretty good. Our pitchers have been solid for the most part and the offense has been sufficient.
"The attitudes and effort are really good in the dugout, and my staff of Marty Roth, Jason Higgins and Wes Miller are quietly really good."
With two outs in the top of the first, Eli Obringer hit a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for a solo home run to get the Truckers going on Thursday.
"That was a big home run for some confidence against a good arm by Eli," Douglas said.
In the top of the third, Sam Battles doubled and scored on an RBI single by Obringer. Norwalk added three runs in the top of the sixth for a 5-1 lead. Ian Minor singled and Nate Adelman walked, which led to an Isaac Scheel RBI single to make it 3-1. Battles then added a two-run single to score Scheel and pinch-runner Ryan Fox.
Meanwhile, Caleb Sommers and Buddy Baker combined to limit the Eagles to one run on three hits over the seven innings.
Sommers threw 92 pitches over five innings, allowing an unearned run on two hits with eight strikeouts and four walks. Baker pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts and one walk.
"Caleb was outstanding after only throwing six innings all year and Buddy continues to impress," Douglas said.
Baker also added two hits and Sommers singled and scored. Minor finished 2 for 4.
Norwalk 101 003 0 — 5 10 1
Crawford 001 000 0 — 1 3 1
WP: Sommers; LP: C. Hamilton
2B: (N) Battles, Minor, Sommers; HR: (N) Obringer
Western Reserve 13, Monroeville 0
COLLINS — The Roughriders put up 10 runs in the second inning to cruise past visiting Monroeville for a Firelands Conference win on Thursday.
For Western (8-16, 6-7), Carson Roe was 3 for 4 with a double, a triple and four RBIs. Matt Jarrett was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs, while Chris Buchanan singled with two RBIs and scored three times.
Austin Harmeling and Muck Grandy each singled and scored for the 'Riders, who got five shutout innings from Logan Wiegel. He struck out six with no walks and scattered seven hits.
For Monroeville (0-18, 0-12), Trevor Schafer, Daniel Smith, Merrit Key, Austin Nichols, Mason Hiser, Brayden Bodkin and Toby Tester each singled.
Monroeville 000 00 — 0 7 4
W. Reserve 2(10)01x — 13 12 1
WP: Wiegel; LP: Schafer
2B: (WR) Jarrett, Roe; 3B: (WR) Roe
