Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

TIFFIN - The No. 1-ranked Bulldogs of Defiance slugged their way into the Division II regional championship for the second straight season after defeating Parma Heights Holy Name 15-1 in five innings on Thursday at Tiffin University’s Heminger Field.

The Bulldogs (28-1) got its started right away, Top Prospect Games participant Dom Gentile was plunked setting the stage for University of Kentucky recruit to give himself a 2-0 cushion. Zeigler (pictured left) hit a two-run bomb over the left-center field fence off Holy Name starter Dave Javor for an early 2-0 advantage.

“I hadn’t gotten a hit yet in the tournament, so I went back to basics and took some BP with my dad. That pitch was up a little bit, I got a hold of it and it went out,” said Zeigler about his fifth homer of the season. “As a team we’ve put a lot of emphasis on our hitting, and now guys are finding their stroke... it’s the perfect time.”

Holy Name got its only run of the game in the bottom of the first, scoring on an unearned run. Lead-off hitter Daniel Cora reached on an error, advancing to third on two wild pitches and scoring on another Bulldog error. The run was the only one of the game that Zeigler would allow to cross home plate.

The talented righty (pictured, right) went four innings allowing one unearned run on two hits and two walkswhile striking out eight, while throwing just 64 pitches.

“Robbie can be ready now if we need him, we weren’t going to pull him unless we got up by 10 runs, and Ethan (Willitzer) came in and did a nice job,” stated Defiance head coach Tom Held. “But, Weston (Rivers) is getting the ball (Friday). I have all the confidence in the world in him.”

The Bulldogs kept slugging the ball, as they scored in each of the five innings, except the fourth inning.

In the second inning Defiance had six runners cross home plate. Unsigned senior Joe Keween laced a one out single up the middle. TP Games participant Derek Turner reached on an error and fellow TP Games participant Austin Hancock plated both on a two-run triple to center. Gentile plated Hancock on a hard hit single to left. Zeigler was intentionally walked and Adam Schaffer laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases. Back-to-back walks to Defiance College recruit Austin Yant and Dom Romero put the Bulldogs up 8-1.

In the third Gentile (pictured) had a two-out single to right, stealing second and third, later scoring on an RBI single by Zeigler to put Defiance up 9-1.
 

In the fifth the Bulldogs exploded for six more runs, with the big blow coming from left-handed hitter Adam Schaffer (Celebration picture below) who roped a three-run bomb to right after Holy Name intentionally walked Zeigler to face the junior.
 

“After I saw Rob get walked (intentionally in the fifth inning), I had to hurry up and get my batting gloves on," said Schaffer. "Coach Held called timeout and told me that they didn’t have any respect for me, and just prove to them I can hit. I got a pitch inside, I turned on it and drove it.”

Holy Name head coach Dennis Markiewicz knew his team played against a top notch team in Defiance.
“That’s a very, very good baseball team, I can see why they were 27-1 coming in here,” said Markiewicz. “(Rob) Zeigler is the real deal, hitting and pitching. I could see them going all the way. I think someday we might see Zeigler pitching in the majors too.”

The Bulldogs now advance to the regional finals on Friday at 2 p.m. to face Granville (22-6), a 6-5 winner over Wapakoneta (18-6) in the opening game on Thursday, as seen here.

To view scouting notes from this game, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.

To view notes on unsigned seniors please visit the Unsigned Senior Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.

To discuss this game, please visit our partner JJHuddle.

LINESCORE

Defiance        261  06  -  15  12  2
Holy Name    100  00  -  0  3  3
Records: Defiance 28-1, Holy Name 15-13.
Winning pitcher: Rob Zeigler (4 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Ethan Willitzer.
Losing pitcher: Dave Javor (1 2/3 innings, 8 runs, 5 hits, 1 strikeout, 1 walk). Other: Alex Bierut.
Leading hitters: (Defiance, 12 hits) - Austin Hancock triple; Dom Gentile 2 singles, 3 runs; Rob Zeiger single, home run, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Adam Schaffer single, home run, 3 RBIs; Alek Smith double; Joe Keween 2 singles; Derek Turner double. (Holy Name, 3 hits).