PBR Spotlight Game: No. 10 Wapakoneta (D-II) at No. 4 Defiance (D-II)

DEFIANCE, OH - What is the key to breaking a long conference winning streak? Solid pitching plus timely hitting plus capitalizing on opponents mistakes plus Mother Nature.

After 72 straight Western Buckeye League wins, Defiance fell to their arch-rival Wapakoneta. 4-2, in 6 1/3 innings of action due to lightning/rain.

Fun Fact:

Under OHSAA rules, Defiance had the right to continue the game since it still had an at-bat remaining. However, WBL rules state a game is complete after 4 1/2 innings, if it is suspended and can't be completed. Also each lightning/rain delay lasted a little over 45 minutes.

No. 10 ranked Wapakoneta (D-II) got the game started off on the right foot as junior two-hole hitter Adam Henderson (pictured below) blasted a solo shot over the left field fence to put the Redskins up 1-0.

The Redskins added to their lead in the second inning. A one out walk to Nick Bruns followed by a bunt single by Keaton Metz but two on. Jordan Kaeck advanced the runners after grounding out to Hancock on the mound.

Junior Quinn Lotridge (pictured right) roped a two-run single to left on an 0-2 pitch to plate Bruns and Metz and put Wapakonta up 3-0.

No. 4 ranked Defiance (D-II) finally got on the board in the third to cut the lead to 3-2.

Junior two-hole hitter Boo Sierra reached via an error, advancing to second on a single by unsigned senior Dom Gentile. After a 5-3 fielders choice and runners on the corners, senior Derek Turner stole second.

After a fly out and walk, sophomore Shay Smiddy came to the plate with the bases loaded. Smiddy dribbled an infield single back towards the pitcher to score Sierra. Junior Wes Detter followed with the same success, an infield single back to the pitcher to score Turner to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Wapakoneta added an insurance run in the fifth, as J. Kaeck reached on an error by Hancock on the mound on a bunt attempt. After a flyout, Henderson singled to right to put runners on first and second. bringing to the plate unsigned senior Chandler Kaeck.

The big left-handed hitter laced a single to left, which was mishandled, allowing J. Kaeck to score from second, putting the Redskins on top 4-2.

The last WBL loss was eight years and one day ago. Defiance suffered a 6-3 loss at Elida on April 28, 2006. 

Wapakoneta hosts Versailles Thursday before traveling to Ottawa-Glandorf for a pivotal WBL contest.

Defiance looks to rebound on Thursday as they host Toledo Central Catholic before returning to WBL play at St. Marys Memorial on Friday.

Notable performances in the game:

• Chace Culver (pictured right), went the distance allowing two run (one ER) on six hits and three walks while striking out four.
• Austin Hancock, went the distance on the mound allowing four runs (three ER) on seven hits and one walk while striking out three. At the plate, Hancock went 2-for-4 with two singles and a stolen base.
• Adam Henderson, went 3-for-4 with a HR in the first inning.
• Quinn Lotridge, had a huge two-out, two-run single in the second inning. 
• Keaton Metz, went 2-for-3 with a run scored while making four plays defensively at short.
• Shay Smiddy, had an RBI single and a HBP for Defiance.
• Wes Detter, went 2-for-3 with two singles and a RBI.

Linescore

Wapakoneta 120  010  0 - 4  7  1

Defiance       002  000  0 - 2  6  5 

Records: Wapakoneta 13-4 (6-1 WBL), Defiance 12-3 (4-1 WBL).

Winning pitcher: Chace Culver (6.1 innings, 2 runs, 0 earned runs, 6 hits, 4 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 HBP).

Losing pitcher: Austin Hancock (7 innings, 4 runs, 3 earned runs, 7 hits, 3 strikeouts, 1 walks).

Leading hitters: (Wapakoneta, 7 hits) - Quinn Lotridge single, 2 RBIs, Adam Henderson 2 singles, home run, Chandler Kaeck single, Keaton Metz 2 singles. (Defiance, 6 hits) - Austin Hancock 2 singles; Dom Gentile single; Shay Smiddy single; Wes Detter 2 singles.