By Dylan Hefflinger
Managing Editor/Senior Writer/NW Scout

BRYAN, OH – Two bitter conference rivals and two of the top teams in Division IV battled for a District Championship in Bryan at beautiful Sumpter Field. No. 3 Tinora looked to defeat No. 14 Ayersville for the second time and right-handed starting pitcher Clay Pittman was almost perfect tonight as the Rams topped the Pilots 7-0.

The San Jacinto JUCO commit Pittman (pictured right), sat the Pilots down in order in each of the first four innings, striking out six as the game remained scoreless.

In the fifth, after a groundout Pittman's fastball ran inside twice on talented freshman Dauson Dales with the second hitting the outfielder. Pittman came back and induced a ground out and a fly out to end the inning.

In the bottom half of the fifth, the Rams finally got things rolling. 

Senior Austin Mahan drew a leadoff walk and senior nine-hole hitter Logan Dickerson laid down a sacrifice bunt that Ayersville starter and unsigned senior Luke Lawson slipped while fielding. If Lawson hadn't slipped, there would've been a play at second to get the lead runner.

Junior E.J. Kissel blooped a single over second base. Mahan got a late break on the play while allowed Mahan to only reach third, but the senior rounded the base to far and to my eyes looked out at third, but was called safe to put runners on first and third before Kissel stole second bringing unsigned senior Reid Renollet to the plate with two runners in scoring position.

The centerfielder (pictured right) roped a single up off the glove of the second basemen who was in for a play at the plate. The single scored both Mahan and Kissel. Renollet stole second and advanced to third on a single by Pittman.

After Pittman stole second to put runners on second and third, Ayersville coach Chad Donsbach didn't think twice about it and walked Tinora's cleanup hitter and unsigned senior shortstop Derek Drewes.

The walk loaded the bases for gifted sophomore Brevin Renollet who on the second pitch laid down a perfect squeeze on a pitch over his head to score his brother Reid.

With Pittman on third and Drewes on second, Lawson threw a ball in the dirt that the runners had a good read on, scoring Pittman and moving Drewes to third.

Junior Dakota Stark put the Rams on top 5-0 after an RBI single scored Drewes. 

The Rams tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth as a one out walk to Kissel, a stolen base, a bunt single by Reid Renollet and an error scored Kissel and put Renollet on third. Renollet scored on a wild pitch to put Tinora on top 7-0 which was more than enough for Pittman on the night.

Pittman walked out for his seventh inning of work having only allowed one runner to reach on a hit-by-pitch.

Unsigned senior and two-hole hitter Matt Engel led off and on an 0-1 pitch the left-handed hitter roped a single up the middle to break up Pittman's no-hit bid.

Pittman then induced two ground outs and a strikeout to end the game and put the Rams in the Regionals for the fourth year in a row and the fifth time in six season.

The Rams will face Toledo Christian and possibly left-handed pitcher Dakoda Brown (BGSU Commit) on Thursday at Patrick Henry HS at 5:00 pm.

Notable Performers:

• Clay Pittman (pictured right) went the distance on the mound allowing just one hit and one hit by pitch while striking out seven. Pittman also had two singles, a stolen base and a run scored.
• Reid Renollet, the unsigned senior had two singles, a stolen base, two RBIs and two runs scored
• Derek Drewes, the talented unsigned senior walked twice, had a stolen base and a run scored while playing spectacular defense. Drewes was credited with six assists at shortstop including two great plays up the middle.
• E.J. Kissel (pictured right), the junior had two singles, a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored while being Pittman's battery mate behind the plate.
• Brevin Renollet, the sophomore had a single, stolen base and an RBI on a squeeze.

Linescores

Ayersville    000  000  0  -  0  1  2

Tinora         000  052  0  -  7  7  0

Records: Tinora 21-4, Ayersville 19-7.

Winning pitcher: Clay Pittman (7 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 7 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 HBP).

Losing pitcher: Luke Lawson (5 innings, 5 runs, 7 hits, 2 strikeouts, 3 walks). Other: Jacob Kahle (1 inning, 2 runs, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks). 

Leading hitters: (Ayersville) - Matt Engel single; Dauson Dales HBP. (Tinora) - E.J. Kissel 2 singles, walk, 2 SB, 2 runs; Reid Renollet 2 singles, SB, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Clay Pittman 2 singles, SB, run; Derek Drewes SB, run, walk, IBB; Brevin Renollet single, SB, RBI; Dakota Stark single, SB, RBI; Austin Mahan 2 walks, SB, run.