CENTERVILLE- The No. 13 ranked junior prospect Tom Stoffel was 3-3 with a pair of runs scored, along with a scoreless seventh inning to secure the save over the No. 2 ranked Centerville Elks by a score of 6-5.

No. 24 ranked junior prospect Nick Bertram toed the rubber for Centerville. Bertram lasted five innings, allowing nine hits, paired with four walks but striking out six. Northmont mounted six runs, with five being earned off the Elks left hander in his five innings of work.

Northmont would begin the scoring in the first with a leadoff single by Stoffel, followed by a Centerville miscue which advanced Stoffel. Two groundouts later and Northmont took an early lead.

Bryan Murphy was in charge of slowing down the Elks offense, and thats just what he did. Murphy would complete six innings, allowing five runs, with only two being earned. Of the 32 batters faced, 23 seen a first pitch strike. Constantly being ahead in the count, allowed Murphy to do exactly what he set out to accomplish, give his team a chance to win.

After two scoreless innings from Murphy, Northmont was looking to extend their 1-0 lead. Stoffel once again started the inning with a leadoff single. Keegan Rottegen would then triple to extend the lead to 2-0. After a Bertram strikeout, Troy Mangen would single in Rottegen to give the Thunderbolts a commanding 3-0 lead.

Centerville had an answer however in the bottom half. Herlihy lined a one out single to centerfield. An infield error later and runners were at the corners for Cole Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald singled to right to plate the Elks first run. Bertram would then help himself with an infield hit, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Bertram would toss a scoreless fourth, and the Elks offense stuck again. A one out walk, and another Northmont error left runners on first and second. Mitchell Young would advance the runners on a sacrifice. Murphy seemed to avoid the threat until another costly error plated two runs giving Centerville a 4-3 lead heading into the fifth. 

After a leadoff single by Patrick Snyder, and another error, Northmont was threatening again. Alex Crabtree would sacrifice, giving Tyler Barker a chance to regain the lead. Barker would do just that, as he line a single into center scoring two, giving Northmont a 5-4 advantage.

Centerville would answer once again in the bottom half. Fitzgerald continued to a great day with a leadoff single, Bertram sacrificed advanced Fitzgerald to second. Holland would then single in Fitzgerald knotting the score 5-5.

Northmont would continue the scoring affair as Burton and Stoffel combined for back to back leadoff hits. Rottegen would sacrifice, bringing up Snyder with two runners in scoring position. Snyder would then drop down a squeeze to give Northmont the lead 6-5. 

The lead would stand as Murphy and Stoffel would close the door on the Elks offense. Northmont’s Patrick Snyder and Tyler Barker both had two RBI’s to lead the game, while Ben Herlihy and Cole Fitzgerald each had a pair of hits for Centerville.

The loss brought a tie among Centerville and Northmont for the top spot in the GWOC Central standings. The tie will not last long however as the two square off again today at Northmont, game begins at 5:00 pm.