Defiance:  The Tinora vs Fairview rivalry hit an all-time high Thursday from Defiance High School as the Rams and Apaches battled for close to four hours on the baseball diamond as the afternoon turned into evening, and then turned into night.

At stake was the right to advance to the OHSAA District Finals Saturday, to take on the #1 seeded Edison Chargers Saturday at Fremont High School.

After the first inning of play, one would have thought it was going to be a high-scoring game, 3 total runs later, that was definitely a tall tale.

The Rams, the #4 seed, grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Logan Stein singled to start the game against Fairview starter Anthony Singer and came around to score on a Parker Hancock groundout that resulted in an Apache throwing error.

Fairview, the #2 seed, quickly answered as leadoff hitter Elijah Arend tripled off Rams starter Logan Stein and scored on Logan Olinger’s single to knot the game at 1-1 after one inning.  

And then teams had to wait, and wait; fans faced; parents saw multiple gay hairs appear as neither team would score over the next 3 hours, with each late inning packed with excitement.

With both starters approaching 100 pitches, both Stein and Singer would be locked in an epic pitchers’ duel as the teams headed to the sixth inning still tied at 1-1.

Fairview’s best chance to score after the initial inning came in the bottom of the sixth as Singer would reach on a Tinora infield error, followed by a Noah Shininger hit by pitch with just one out.  Stein and the Rams would buckle down and get out of the inning tied at 1-1.

The Apahces again would look to tally a run in the bottom of the seventh.  Calvin Kepler would be hit by a Stein pitch with one out.  Elijah Arend would double in right field. As Kelple rounded third for the winning run, he would slip and fall, having to hold at third.  Tinora would intentionally walk the GMC player of the Year, Anthony Singer, to lead the bases with one out. Again, Stein and the Rams would battle and get out of the jam to keep the game knotted at 1-1 after seven innings.

Tinota’s best chance to score after the initial frame came in the top of the eighth.  Avery Moser would walk single with two out, and move to second on a Fairview throwing error on the same play. Stein would follow with a walk to put Rams runners at first and second, and a Singer wild pitch moved the Tinora runners to second and third. Singer and the Apachers would get out of the mess, keeping the game tied at 1-1.
 
Singer would exit after pitching eight solid innings, allowing just the one run, while striking out 13 Tinora hitters.    Jonah Shininger would come in relief for the Apaches.

Tinora’s Logan Stein would work 8 and 2/3 innings, giving up just the one run and allowing only four hits. Owen Reynolds would come on to work for the Rams.

Tinora’s next and best chance to break the tie came at the top of the 11th inning.  Logan Stein would lead off with a double to center, and Ryan Mills would sacrifice him to third with one out.  Owen Reynolds sent a fly ball to centerfield. Fairview’s Gavin Garza would unleash a perfect throw to the plate as Apache catcher Hunter Miller would slap the tag on a diving Stein at the plate to complete the double play, keeping the game tied at 1-1.

With Owen Reynols relieving Stein, Fairview’s Elijah Arend would start the bottom of the twelfth inning with a leadoff double.  Shady Fritch would reach on a Tinora infield error.  Coach Eric Tipton and the Rams would walk Singer to load the bases with one out.  Noah Shininger would send a high-bouncing ball to second. Avery Moser’s throw to the plate was not in time to get the lead runner, and the winning run for Fairview was scored by Arend.  The Apaches advanced with a 2-1 win over the Rams.

What an epic, classic baseball game between two great teams.

Fairview’s season will continue as they improve to 24-4.  They will take on Edison on Saturday at 2 pm at Fremont Ross

Tinora sees their season end at 17-6-1.  The Rams will graduate three seniors, Avery Moser, Allen Burchfield, and Parker Hancock.  It’s been a pleasure covering you three this season and throughout your Tinora Student-Athletic careers.

Watch it back below: