Wapakoneta Baseball Manages Narrow Victory, Stays Alive in League Hunt
VAN WERT- The Wapakoneta Varsity Baseball team came out victorious in a close Western Buckeye League game. They won at Van Wert 6-5 on Wednesday, putting them one win away from earning back-to-back league titles.
Van Wert opened the scoring in the first after Brylen Parker singled, scoring one run. An error gave Wapakoneta the 2-1 lead in the top of the second. Van Wert’s Kaden Shaffer stole the lead back on a double in the bottom of the second. The visiting Redskins went ahead 6-4 in the top of the third when Alex Lewis singled, scoring one run, and Jarrett Mullen tripled, scoring three runs.
Ryan Price earned the win for Wapakoneta. The starting pitcher gave up three hits and four runs over four innings, striking out six and walking four. Grant Jolly collected the save. Zac Niekamp appeared in relief. Mullen led the way with three runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went one-for-two on the day. Price led the team with two hits in four at bats.
Samuel Houg started on the mound for the home-standing Cougars. The starting pitcher went three innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits, striking out two and walking one. Shaffer led the Cougars with three runs batted in. The infielder went one-for-two on the day. Case Stegaman, Parker, Shaffer, Briston Wise, and Kristian Akerman each collected one hit Wednesday night.
With the win, Wapakoneta improved to 12-5 (6-1) and will have to top Shawnee (10-11, 4-3 in WBL) on Monday for their second consecutive WBL title. First, they will welcome Columbus Grove (11-11) on Friday for a Senior Night game. Van Wert dropped to 9-9 on the year and sits at .500, but will look to improve when they travel to Kalida on Friday at 12:00 p.m.