AYERSVILLE: Logan Stein provided the arm and the bat Thursday from Ayersville as he threw eight shutout innings, outdualing fellow lefty, Owen Lloyd from the Pilots, as the Rams defeated the Pilots 1-0 in the River Rivalry, baseball edition.

In a conference game the Tinora Rams needed to win, the Rams’ first-year head coach, Eric Tipton, sent Logan Stein to the hill. Ayresville’s second-year coach, Cory Adams, sent his lefty, Owen Lloyd, to the mound. Both southpaws combined in 2026 for a 5-2 record, with 83 strikeouts in just over 48 innings worked, oh, and a combined ERA of 1.01.

With both starters’ numbers amazing, the game went as one would have thought. Both Stein and Lloyd battled through the first three innings with just one baserunner, an infield hit by Pilot Grady Wolfrum in the bottom of the third.

The Rams first hit of the game came in the top of the fourth, a single from Stein. Stein stole second and was in scoring position with no one out. Lloyd would retire the next three Tinora batters, two via strikeout.

Lloyd silenced Tinora’s bats for most of the game, but the Rams mounted a rally in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Kolton Snyder singled, followed by a walk to Jared Neff. Again, Lloyd would shut down the Tinora rally, getting an infield groundout to end the inning.

The next time either team would come close to scoring was in the bottom of the seventh. With the game still scoreless, Ayersville’s Owen Lloyd would start the frame reaching on an infield error. Jackson Stambaugh would single with one out, putting Pilot runners at first and second. Stein next would issue his only walk of the game, this to Hunter Hazelton, loading the bases with just one out. Stein, showing why he’s the Rams ace, buckled down, striking out the next two Ayersville batters to get out of the bases-loaded jam. The game would remain scoreless, tied 0-0 through seven innings.

Tinora would finally break the ice in the top of the eighth. With Lloyd still on the hill for the Pilots, Kolton Snyder and Jared Neff would start the inning with walks off the lefty. A perfect sacrifice bunt by Tinora senior second baseman Avery Moser moved the runners to second and third with one out.

Stealing a page from his now-retired mentor, longtime head coach Brent Renollet, Tipton would call for the squeeze play from Stein. Stein would lay down a perfect bunt with Snyder scoring from third to plate the first run of the game. Stein was thrown out at first on the play for the second out of the inning. Knowing one run may not be enough, Tipton waved Neff to the plate on the Stein bunt play, but a great throw to the plate by the Pilots Grady Wolfrum completed the double play, ending the inning. Tinora grabbed a 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the eighth.

Stein, approaching 100 pitches, would retire Ayersville in order in the bottom of the inning, preserving the extra-inning shutout win for his Rams.

Both Stein and Lloyd would throw a complete game; Stein recorded 13 strikeouts, while Lloyd struck out 12 Tinora batters.

What a great high school baseball game.

Tinora improves to 9-2-1, 4-1 in the GMC. The Rams will travel to Napoleon on Friday before hosting Kalida on Saturday.

Ayersville falls to 8-8, 4-3 in the GMC. The Pilots will host Continental on Friday.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Logan Stein. Congratulations Logan. What an effort.

Watch back the instant classic below: