Tinora 9 Columbus Grove 7

On a beautiful Friday evening at Grube Field from Tinora High School, the 12-3 Rams welcomed in the 10th ranked team in the latest DIV IV coaches poll, the 16-3 Columbus Grove Bulldogs.

In a matchup of senior right-handers, Tinora’s Eli Plassman and the Bulldogs Brenton Renner would face off on the mound.

The Rams would jump out to 1 early 1-0 as they would plate an unearned run in the bottom of the first. Kayden Radzik would reach on a throwing error with one out and score on Dalton Wolfrum’s RBI single

The Bulldogs tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second. Taylor Schroeder would take a Plassman pitch deep over the left-center fence for a solo homerun, tying the game.

‘Grove would retake the lead in the top of the third. RBI singles by Shep Hakler and Bo Birnesser would put the Bulldogs back on top 3-1.

The Ram attack added three runs in the bottom of the third to regain the lead. Ayden Moser would single, steal a base, and score on another throwing error by Columbus Grove, while RBI’s by D Wolfrum and Hunter Bostelman followed and would increase the Rams lead to 4-3 after three.

Columbus Grove snagged the lead back from the Rams in a bizarre top of the fifth inning. The Bulldogs would send eight batters to the plate, scoring four runs to regain a 7-4 lead over Tinora.

Five singles in the inning by the Bulldogs, highlighted by a bases loaded bloop single to right by Kyle Hopkins, that appeared, to the naked eye, to land just outside the right field foul line.
Unfortunately, the umpire didn’t get a great view and ruled the ball fair, plating two runs for Columbus Grove. After taking a 5-3 lead, ‘Grove’s Dalton Worth would add a double, scoring Taylor Schroeder and Hopkins, ending the inning with a 7-4 lead.

Tinora would mount a rally in the bottom of the fifth. Teron Ward and Luke Harris each would single and score on Hunter Hostelman’s two out RBI double to right-center. The Rams would cut the Bulldogs lead to 7-6 after fie innings of play.

The Rams bats again would come to life in the bottom of the sixth, still trailing by one, Tinora sent seven batters to the plate.
Eli Plassman and Grady Gustwiller both reached safely to start the rally. After a Moser sacrifice to move the Tinora runners to second and third, Renner would get the next two Rams batters out, seemingly thwarting the Tinora rally.

But, Rams senior leader, catcher Dalton Wolfrum would send a 3-2 pitch into the right-center gap, scoring pinch runner Connor Woldrum and Gustwiller, giving the Rams a 8-6 lead. Wolfrum wasn’t done making noise just yet. Already with two stolen bases in the game, Dalton Wolfrum darted for third, the catchers throw would wind up heading into right field, Wolfrum jumped up and scored the Rams third run in the inning, putting the Rams up 9-7 after six innings.

The top of the seventh saw the Bulldogs put the tying runs on base with one out. After a brief meeting with his head coach, Brent Renollet, the skipper decided to stay with his senior right-hander. Plassman would retire the final two Columbus Grove batters, giving the Rams a thrilling, come from behind win over a very good Bulldogs baseball club.

Although not his best outing, Eli Plassman picked up the win, battling all the way for the complete game win.

Columbus Grove 012 040 0 7 runs 12 hits 3 errors
Tinora Rams 103 023 x 9 runs 9 hits 1 error

L – Renner
W – Plassman

‘Grove – T Schroeder HR, single, BB, 2 runs; Hoffman single, run; Halker 2 doubles, run; Hopkins single, RBI; Worth, double, 2 RBI; Ricker run, single, L Schroeder single run.

Tinora – Moser SB, run, single; Radzik 2 runs, D Wolfrum 2 runs, 3 SB, 2 singles, double; Harris 2 singles, run; Bostelman, double, 2 RBI, BB; Plassman single; Gustwiller walk, run; Connor Woldrum – run