By Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Senior Writer/Northwest Scout

NAPOLEON, OH - Two of the more talented division II teams in NW Ohio clashed on Tuesday on a cool, extremely windy night. No. 19 Bryan used strong pitching and timely hitting to defeat No. 20 Napoleon, 10-5.

The Golden Bears and head coach Jeff Inselmann got on the board first in the second inning off of Napoleon ace Zach Willeman (ranked number 7 in Ohio and 64 overall in the 2014 class). After a one-two-three first inning, all on strikeouts, the Golden Bears Bailey Martin (ranked number) drew a walk which was followed by singles from talented sophomore Deylen Miley (ranked number 29 in the 2016 class, pictured right)and junior Kyle Rupp. A couple wild pitches later and the Golden Bears are on top 3-0.

Napoleon strikes back with four runs in the third. Bluffton University commit Jacob Lerch and junior Michael Gilliland (ranked number 194 in the 2015 class) drew back-to-back one out walks. Unsigned senior Tyler Torrez ripped a grounder towards short which the Golden Bears shortstop airmailed the throw to first scoring two. After a hit by pitch, fielders choice and single, the Wildcats jump on top 4-3.

In the fifth, Bryan jumped back on top for good as they scored three. Leadoff shortstop Nate Rau (ranked 175 in the 2015 class) was hit by a pitch, and after a strikeout, error and strikeout brought Miley to the plate with two runners in scoring position. The two-way prospect roped his third single of the game for a two-run hit to put the Golden Bears on top 6-4.

Napoleon got its last run in the fifth as Gilliland roped an RBI double off Bryan's relief pitcher Bryce Alabata (pictured left). The lefty came on in relief of unsigned senior starter Jordan Bostater. Alabata went 3.1 innigns allowing just three walks while striking out two. 

The Golden Bears tacked on four more runs, in the final two innings of play, off of Napoleon talented sophomore relief pitcher Layne Schnitz-Paxton (ranked number 6 in the 2016 class).

Willeman (pictured below) on the night: 5 innings, 3 ER, 5 hits, 10 strikeouts, 2 walks, sitting 85-89 on the fastball.

To view scouting notes from this game, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.

To discuss this game, please visit our partner JJHuddle.

Linescore

Bryan 030 032 2 - 10 8 2

Napoleon 004 100 0 - 5 2 2

Records: Bryan 2-0, Napoleon 0-1.

Winning pitcher: Bryce Albata (3.1 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 strikeouts, 3 walks). Other: Jordan Bostater (4.2 innings, 2 ER, 2 hits, 5 strikeouts, 2 walks).

Losing pitcher: Zach Willeman (5 innings, 3 ER, 5 hits, 10 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Layne Schnitz.

Leading hitters: (Bryan, 8 hits) - Deylen Miley 3 singles; Thomas Martin 2 singles; Nate Rau single, Kyle Rupp single. (Napoleon, 2 hits) - Michael Gilliland double; Layne Schnitz-Paxton single.

To view scouting notes from games across Ohio, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.

To discuss this game, please visit our partner JJHuddle.