PBR Spotlight Games: No. 19 Sandusky Perkins (D-II) vs No. 13 Bishop Watterson (D-II) at No. 35 Toledo Central Catholic (D-I)

TOLEDO, OH - Three talented teams came together at Toledo Central Catholic's Mercy Field. No. 35 Toledo Central Catholic (D-I) played host to No. 13 Bishop Watterson (D-II) and No. 19 Sandusky Perkins (D-II). In game one, Watterson topped TCC 7-2, but fell to Perkins in game two in a see-saw battle 12-8. Perkins won game three 6-4 over TCC. Perkins moves to 5-2, Watterson 5-4 and TCC 3-2.

In the first contest, Bishop Watterson got off to an quick start. Sam Severance (Unsigned senior, who you will hear his name a lot throughout this article) leadoff with an infield single, advancing to second on a wild throw to first. After a flyout, junior Avery Janning roped an RBI single, advancing to second on the throw home. Junior Jacob Bolton singled and unsigned senior Bobby Truelove walked bringing to the plate junior Sam Rice (pictured right). The power-hitting first baseman roped a three-run double to put the Eagles up 4-0.

Watterson kept the onslaught going in the second as Severance roped a one out triple, scoring on a wild pitch. After three consecutive walks and a sac fly by junior Sean Roark the Eagles had a comfortable 6-0 lead.

Toledo Central Catholic scored one in the second and one in the fifth. In the second, senior Chad Kuebler drew a leadoff walk, scoring on an RBI infield single by senior Reed Calmas. In the fifth, senior Ryan O'Hearn smashed a double to left, advancing to third after Colin Kaucher singled to right. Senior Richard O'Donnell drove O'Hearn in on a sacrifice fly.

In the sixth Bishop Watterson tacked on an insurance run as Severance roped an RBI double, scoring senior Joe DiOrio, who reached on a walk.

In the second game, Perkins and Watterson had an exciting see-saw battle that ended with the Pirates claiming a 12-8 win over the Eagles.

Watterson got off to another great start, scoring two in the first and three in the second inning. Severance (pictured left) had a leadoff triple, Janning walked and both came home on a two-RBI double by junior Matt Froehle. 

In the second, senior Scott Clark drew a one-out walk and stole second, later coming home on an RBI single from sophomore CF Alex Gabel. Severance reached on an error and both Gabel and Severance scored on separate wild pitches putting the Eagles up 5-0.

Down 5-0, the Perkins Pirates exploded for five runs on five hits and two walks. Senior speedy CF Dale Irby drew a one-out walk, junior Mike Pietrowski singled to put two runners on and the top of the lineup coming up.

Unsigned senior Devin Dubbert drove Irby home on an RBI single moving up to second as senior Thane Walton loaded the bases with a single. Tiffin University commit Luke Fraley drew a bases loaded walk to score Pietrowski. Senior Kyle Lewis drove Dubbert and Walton home with a two-run double to tie the game at 5-5.

Watterson answered with three in the third to go back on top 8-5 thanks to ..... you guessed it unsigned senior Sam Severance. Senior Mason Fisher led off with a single moving up to second on a sacrifice bunt from Roark. Gabel toped an RBI single to left scoring Fisher and bringing to the plate the player of the day Severance. The speedy outfielder top a line shot to right field that Perkins senior outfielder Tyler Puckrin made a diving attempt for, but the ball went passed him for an inside-the-park homerun.

Once again, Perkins strikes back with four runs in the top of the fourth. Perkins pinch-hitter Maxx Tambunino drew a leadoff walk, Irby walked and Pietrowski reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases. Dubbert drove Tambunino home on an infield single while Irby scored on a sac fly from Walton. Fraley drove two in on a two-run single to left to put the Pirates back on top 9-8.

Perkins shut the Eagles bats down in the final four innings as relief pitchers junior Kyle Young, Braun Miller (OSU commit) and Trevon Moore allowed just five runners in the four innings. Perkins added insurance runs as they tacked on three more in the seventh with the big hit coming from Irby, a two-run triple.

Notable performances in the games:

• Sam Severance, went 6-for-8 with a walk, two singles, double, two triples, inside-the-park HR, five runs scored and two RBIs.
• Avery Janning, went 3-for-4 with three walks, two singles, SB, two runs scored and an RBI.
• Jacob Bolton, went 1-for-3 with a walk, single and run scored.
• Sam Rice, had a big three-run double.
• Alex Gabel, went 3-for-4 with three singles, two runs scored and three RBIs.
• Trevon Moore, went 1.1 innings on the mound striking out three in game two vs Watterson.
• Devin Dubbert, went 2-for-5 with two singles, two runs scored, two RBIs in game two vs Watterson.
• Thane Walton, went 2-for-3 with two singles, a run scored and an RBI in game two Watterson.
• Kyle Lewis, walk, double, two RBIs in game two Watterson.
• Dale Irby (Ashland U football commit), who has not played baseball since 8th grade had two walks, triple, three runs scored, two RBIs, in game two Watterson.
• Ryan O'Hearn, went 1-for-2 with a walk, double and HBP in game one for TCC.

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