Trace Fowler

DAYTON- Many of the reasons we fall in love with sports were on display thursday night at University of Dayton’s Time Warner Cable Stadium. The Bellefontaine Chieftains were up against the defending state champions No. 5 ranked Columbus St. Francis DeSales, and neither team deserved to lose.

Chieftains southpaw Daulton Mosbarger (Akron Recruit) took the hill against DeSales senior right hander Nick Eltzroth. (Ohio Northern Recruit)

No. 19 Bellefontaine would begin the scoring in the bottom of the second as a walk followed by an error and hit by pitch loaded the bases, DeSales however, seemed to catch a break.

A failed squeeze left runners on second and third with two outs. Eltzroth would balk giving Bellefontaine an early 1-0 lead. The Chieftains would add another run a couple pitches later on a passed ball extending the lead 2-0.

The score would remain locked until Mosbarger, who seemingly found himself on base all night, laced a one out triple.Brandon Wilson would single in Mosbarger and lead grew to 3-0.

DeSales escaped a bases loaded threat keeping their deficit surmountable at 3-0.

TJ Alas (EKU Recruit) and Zak DeCamp (Lake Erie Recruit) would begin the Stallions comeback with back to back singles to open the sixth inning.

Nick Eltzroth would lay down a sacrifice bunt, however with no one covering first base, DeSales loaded the bases.

Derek Traini would draw a full count walk to plate DeSales first run, cutting the deficit 3-1. Mosbarger would then strike out two Stallions in a row seemingly taking the life out of DeSales potent threat.

Brennan Schlabig gave DeSales a huge lift with a two out single which evened the score at 3-3. The score would remain the same until the top half of inning number eight.

Decamp’s leadoff single and Eltzroth’s sacrifice put Decamp in scoring position. After a wild pitch, Bellefontaine elected to intentionally walk Traini to set up the double play.

The Chieftains move seemed to pay off as Mosbarger induced a taylor made double play, however the throw on to first was just out of Bellefontaine’s first baseman’s reach.

The error gave DeSales yet again another lead in extra innings at 4-3. The lead wouldn't hold up though if Jarrod Houchin had anything to say about it.

Houchin and Bellefontaine were down to their last strike of the season until a two out, hard ground ball in which a diving DeCamp made a great effort on, skipped away and Houchin, and Bellefontaine were once again, still alive.

The Stallions bounced back led by a offensive furry which finally forced Mosbarger to exit a well pitched ball game.

Sophomore Cody Lyons would replace Mosbarger, and try to slow down the Stallions ninth inning rally.

Eltzroth seemed to put the game out of reach with a huge two run single, giving DeSales a 7-4 lead, heading into the bottom half of the ninth.

Brennan Schlabig relieved Eltzroth, and was due to face the heart of the lineup. As the innings grew, so did Chieftain nation. Bellefontaine students,parents,and supporters packed Time Warner Cable Stadium, and their energy seemed to give Bellefontaine life, and that they did.

Mosbarger once again lead off the inning with a single. Nate Brisson would double, and a sacrifice fly by Brandon Wilson narrowed the deficit 7-5. Travis Francis then gave Bellefontaine life once again.

Francis smashed a fastball which one hopped the left center field wall, Francis would just beat a relay throw for a one out triple, cutting the DeSales lead 7-6.

After DeSales missed an opportunity to catch a pop up in foul territory, Houchin laid down a great suicide squeeze scoring Francis, and once again the game moved on.

In the eleventh, Brad Bohus gave the Stallions another lead with a big two out single making the score 8-7, and once again putting Bellefontaine’s offensive on the hot seat.

Bellefontaine would’t go down easily. Brisson laced a line drive into center but an excellent play by Chris Kurek, DeSales centerfield robbed Brisson of a hit.

Brandon Wilson would double, giving Bellefontaine a runner in scoring position with just one out. DeSales would intentionally walk Francis, putting the winning run on first base.

Jarrod Houchin, then laced a line drive, but DeSales second baseman snared the line drive and stepped on second base to secure the double play, and end a great game of baseball.

Neither team deserved to lose, both showing an uncanny ability to respond when faced with adversity, while displaying nothing but great sportsmanship throughout.

Congratulations to Bellefontaine and Chieftain nation on a great season. Columbus DeSales will face Cincinnati Wyoming at the University of Dayton today, first pitch 5:00 p.m.