Kalida 3 Tinora 2

KALIDA – The Rams made a Saturday morning trip down to the St. Thomas Holy Name Ballpark. Although still under renovation, the Holy Name Ballpark will soon be one of the more attractive parks in NW Ohio.

The Rams Corbin Casteel and Kalida’s Colin Hoffman matched up in a mid-season pitchers duel. Both teams’ defenses were in top form, as no less than six fantastic plays were made in the field by both teams throughout the game.

Tinora certainly had their share of opportunities to score over the first three innings, and the entire game, leaving a total of 11 runners stranded. The Rams left a runner on base in all but one, in the sixth inning, as they fell to a very good Wildcats team, 3-2.

Tinora had a scoring threat thwarted in the opening inning as Kalida second baseman Bubba made a two-out diving stop behind second base as Luke Harris’s liner that was ticked to centerfield was stopped by Smith, throwing Harris out at first. Teron Ward and Dalton Wolfrum were left stranded to end the top of the first inning.

Smith led off for the Wildcats in the bottom of the first, shooting a double into the right-center gap. Kalida head coach Chad Ehrnsberger used textbook baseball as Drew Buss sacrificed Smith to third, and he would score on a sacrifice fly by Jaden Smith, putting the Wildcats up 1-0 after one inning of play.

The visiting Rams would tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the second. Hunter Bostelman led off the inning with a double and would move to third on a BJ Morlock sacrifice. Ayden Moser’s RBI single would score Bostelman. Tinora would leave two more runners on base to end their second.

Tinora grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. The Rams again loaded the bases, Rylee Peters picked up an RBI as he was hit in the shoulder by Wildcats starter, Carson Klausing. Tinora would leave the bases loaded, unable to get the key hit.

Klausing would exit after three innings of work, and EJ Miller would come in and pitch 3 1/3 strong innings of relief.

The host Wildcats tied the game at 2-2 as they plated their second run in the bottom of the third inning. The Kalida rally would start with two outs. Braydon Smith singled and moved to third as Drew Buss would bloop a single into the Rams outfield. Smith scored on a balk by the Rams starter, Korbin Casteel.

Kalida broke the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fourth as they would score an unearned run in the inning. Klausing led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch. Klausing scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by the Rams infield, resulting in the 3-2 deficit for the Rams after four innings of play.

The Wildcats held the 3-2 lead as the teams headed to the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Teron Ward walked, followed by another walk, this one to Luke Harris. After the second consecutive walk, Kalida’s EJ Miller would give way to the third Wildcats pitcher to work, Drew Buss.

Buss would enter and slam the door on the Tinora Rally, getting the final two outs to pick up the save for Kalida.

Tinora’s Corbin Casteel took the tough loss, going 7 innings, allowing 3 runs, 2 earned. Casteel would allow just four hits, striking out six, walking just one.

The loss dropped the Rams to 11-4. Tinora will travel to Archbold on Tuesday, host Ottoville Thursday, host Columbus Grove Friday, and an 11 am home start against Patrick Henry Saturday.

Kalida improved to 13-4. The Wildcats will travel to Miler City on Monday before their big showdown on Tuesday vs Columbus Grove.