Kalida 7 Tinora 5 F/9

On one of the best days for baseball in northwest Ohio this Spring, the Rams of Tinora met up with PCL member, Kalida, as the Rams and Wildcats battled through what was initially a pitcher’s duel.

On a sun-drenched Monday from Tinora High School, The Rams brought in a 13-2 mark, while the visiting Wildcats entered at 11-8.

Tinora sent senior righty Cole Commisso and his 3-1 record vs Kalida’s junior righty Colin Hoffman, Hollman entered with a 1-2 mark.

Kalida scored an unearned run in the second inning off the Rams starter Commisso, this would be the only run through the first five innings for either team.
Commisso would pitch 5 1/3 innings, allowing just the one run.

Kalida Junior righty Collin Hoffman completely shutdown the Rams attack, which was coming in averaging nine runs a game, and hitting .341 as a team.

Tinora advanced just a single runner to second base through the initial five innings, only collecting one hit off the Kalida starter, as the Wildcats continued to lead 1-0 as Tinora entered the bottom of the sixth.

After the first two Rams reached to start the bottom of the sixth, Kalida head coach Chad Ernsburger went to senior righty Justin Siebeneck. Rams shortstop Kadyn Radzik laid down the perfect bunt, loading the bases with still no one out for Tinora. Cole Commisso sent a liner to left field, scoring Grady Gustwiller to tie the game at 1-1.
Tinora still had the bases loaded with no one out in the sixth. Rams DH Jayden Bergman sent a sac fly to center, Wildcats center fielder Michael Hortsman made a circus catch to save two runs from scoring, crossing the plate was Nolan Schafer from third, Tinora now lead 2-1.

The Rams hit into an ending double play to end the sixth. Tinora was now taking a 2-1 lead to the top of the seventh.
In relief of the Rams starter Commisso was Eli Plassman, Plassman with two saves this season, took the ball to get the final three outs.

The Wildcats got a lead off single from Colin Hoffman to start the seventh, after a throwing error put two on base with no out, catcher Gabe Roof loaded the bases with a perfect bunt. Plassman got a fly out for the first out, no one could advance for Kalida. The wildcats then took the lead on a Drew Buss sacrifice fly, followed by a Justin Siebeneck single, Kalida led 3-2 as we headed to the bottom of the seventh.

The Rams opened the inning with a Teron Ward walk, Ward went to second on a balk by the third Wildcats pitcher to work, EJ Miller. After Tinora a foul out, Ward advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an Eli Plassman squeeze bunt, the game was tied after seven at 3-3.

Kalida added two runs in the top of the eight. Carson Klausing led off with a stand-up double, went to second on a sacrifice, then scored on a two out double by Colin Hoffman. The Wildcats took a 4-3 lead, and would add another run on a Gabe Roof single, scoring Hoffman, taking a 5-3 lead to the bottom of the eighth inning.

After a one out walk by Rams Radzik, Tinora’s Cole Commisso sent a 3-0 AJ Miller pitch over the left field wall, just inside the foul pole, the game was now tied at 5-5. Miller and the Wildcats would exit the inning, leaving the winning run at second.

To the top of the ninth we went, Kalida’s Justin Siebeneck would send a one out double to the left field wall off Plassman. Jaden Smith would walk, putting two Wildcats on with just one out. A wild pitch put Siebeneck to third, then scored on a Klausing ground out. Kalida lead 6-5. Jaden Smith would add run number seven on a Hoffman single, Kalida led 7-5 after 8 and one half innings.

The Rams would get a two out walk, but could do no damage in their last at bat, EJ Miller shutdown the Rams bats, the Wildcats won a thriller, 7-5 in nine innings.

With the loss, the Rams fall to 13-3. The Rams have 5 more games over the next five days, Tinora will host Wauseon on Tuesday, then the GMC showdown on Wed vs Wayne Trace.

Kalida improves to 12-8, the Wildcats will host PCL foe Columbus Grove Tuesday.

Game-time 2:40