PBR Spotlight Game: No. 2 Defiance (D-II) at No. 11 Ottawa-Glandorf (D-III)

GLANDORF, OH - Two of the top programs in the Western Buckeye League clashed on Friday for a 12-inning classic. University of Cincinnati commit Tanner Schimmoeller went 10 innings while Sinclair CC commit Derek Turner went 8 1/3 innings, stymieing the Bulldog and Titan bats in key situations as No. 2 ranked Defiance (D-II) nipped No. 11 Ottawa-Glandorf (D-III), 2-1.

The score was deadlocked at 0-0 through four innings as the 6-foot-6 righty Schimmoeller (left) and the 6-foot-3 righty Turner (right) were dealing, but then let the drama begin.
 

From the fifth inning on there were 23 runners left on base.

After a strikeout to start the fifth, Defiance's 2016 Shay Smiddy reached on an error. Junior Jimmy Bauer singled to left to put two on. Unsigned senior Jacob Green laid down a perfect bunt for a single to load the bases, to bring to the plate Austin Hancock.

Hancock didn't exactly drill the ball, the Olney JC commit hit a soft grounder that Schimmoeller dove for and bare-handed, but had nowhere to throw the ball as all the runners advanced, scoring the first run of the game.

Schimmoeller then struck out the next two batters to keep the score 1-0.

Ottawa-Glandorf answered in the sixth inning off of Turner. Junior shortstop Brad Croy drew a lead-off walk, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Austin Williams and to third on an error off the bat of the Titans unsigned senior Tyler Zender. Turner finished the inning with a strikeout.

With runners on first and third, Ben Dietering drove Croy home on a ground out to short to knot the game at 1-1, which it would stay until the 12th inning.

The 12th inning had it all.

Green roped a single off of the Titans third baseman, his second hit of the game. A sacrifice bunt by Hancock moved Green up to second. Defiance's junior second baseman Boo Sierra tried to bunt for a hit, and the Titan catcher threw the ball low and Green (pictured below), who never slowed down, came around and scored a run to put Defiance on top 2-1.

But were the Bulldogs done scoring off of the Titans relief pitcher and unsigned senior Matt Warnecke?

Unsigned senior Dom Gentile bunted for a single to put runners on first and second. After a fly out and walk to junior Tyler Weaver loaded the bases with two outs. Another fly out ended the Bulldog threat.

Could O-G answer?

An error to start the inning put junior Chandler Kersh on bases. Croy singled to right to put runners on first and third with nobody out, with the 2-3-4 hitters coming up to face Defiance relief pitcher and ace Austin Hancock.

A fielders choice on a ground out to Gentile at third had the Kersh in a pickle between home and third. The Titans runners advanced to second and third and Kersh was put out at third in the rundown.

Defiance's coaches decided to walk the talented hitter Zender, to bring Dietering and Warnecke to the plate with the bases loaded and one out.

Hancock got a strikeout and ground out to Smiddy at short to end the game with the bases loaded and 26 total runners left on base.

Defiance's impressive win streak in the difficult Western Buckeye League goes to 72 while O-G falls to 4-1 in the WBL.

Defiance, the lone unbeaten team in the WBL, has a tough week ahead as they face No. 18 Sherwood Fairview (D-III) before WBL tilts against No. 13 Wapakoneta (D-II) and No. 24 St. Mary's Memorial (D-II).

O-G will look to rebound on Tuesday on the road against Kenton.

Notable performances in the game:

• Derek Turner, went 8.2 innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 6 while throwing 117 pitches. Turner sat 83-84 on the mound touching 87 along with a good 12/6 curve.
• Tanner Schimmoeller, went 10 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 10. At the plate Schimmoeller ripped a double. Schimmoeller sat 81-84 on the mound touching 85 with a good slider in the low 70s. Schimmoeller threw roughly 150 pitches.
• Austin Hancock, picked up the win on the mound going 3.1 innings allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out three. Hancock sat 83-84 on the mound touching 86 along with a good curve and outstanding change.
• Jacob Green (pictured right), the unsigned senior scored the winning run, showing his speed and athleticism to score from second. On the day had two singles and played a defensive center field.
• Brad Croy, the junior went 2-for-5 with a single and double while playing shortstop.

Linescore

Defiance             000 010 000 001 - 2 9 3

Ottawa-Glandorf 000 001 000 000 - 1 8  3

Records: Defiance 12-2 (4-0 WBL), Ottawa-Glandorf 9-4 (4-1 WBL).

Winning pitcher: Austin Hancock (3.1 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 3 strikeouts, 1 walk). Other: Derek Turner (8.2 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 6 strikeouts, 4 walks).

Losing pitcher: Matt Warnecke (2 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 0 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Tanner Schimmoeller (10 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 10 strikeouts, 3 walks).

Leading hitters: (Defiance) - Jacob Green 2 singles; Jimmy Bauer 2 singles; Austin Hancock single; Boo Sierra single; Dom Gentile single; Derek Turner single; Shay Smiddy single. (Ottawa-Glandorf) - Brad Croy single, double; Austin Williams single; Tyler Zender single; Ben Dietering single; Andrew Wischmeyer 2 singles; Tanner Schimmoeller double.