PAULDING: On a cold, windy, chilly, and overcast Wednesday, the Tinora Rams and Paulding Panthers finally played their GMC makeup game. The game had already been postponed twice. For the Rams, a share of the GMC title with the Fairview Apaches was at stake.

Tinora’s Coach Eric Tipton sent first team ALL GMC performer Logan Stein to the hill. Coach Ben Barten sent his first team All GMC selection, Colten Hunto, to the mound. It was a battle of the left-handers.

Tinora started the game drawing consecutive walks off Hunt. Stein and Ryan Mills both reached base. Hunt got out of the jam by retiring the next three Tinora hitters.

Both starters were throwing darts through the first two innings. The Rams’ first hit came in the bottom of the third on a leadoff single by Honorable Mention selection Avery Moser. Moser reached second, but Hunt and the Panthers retired the next three Rams hitters.

Paulding’s best chance to score so far came in the bottom of the fourth. The game was still scoreless. Panther Stroker Etter reached base on a dropped third strike, then moved to second and third on two straight passed balls. With the Tinora infield drawn in, Grady Arend hit a hard grounder to second base. Avery Moser held Etter at third and retired Arend for the second out. Stein collected his 65th strikeout of the season to end the Paulding threat. The game stayed scoreless after four innings.

Paulding threatened again in the bottom of the fifth. A leadoff single by Zach Barton was the Panthers’ first hit. Pinch runner Nich Baughman moved to second on a sac bunt from Ridge Hunt. Grady Barton followed with a one-out walk. Paulding had two runners on with just one out. Coach Barton tried a safety squeeze with Jackson Griffith. Griffith bunted the ball to the left of Stein, but Stein dashed off the mound and threw out the runner at the plate for the second out. Stein then got a groundout to end the Paulding threat. The game remained tied, 0-0, after five innings.

The Rams finally broke through with a single rally at the top of the sixth. Logan Stein led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position on a sac from Ryan Mills.  Owen Reynolds, a second-team ALL-GMC selection, would send a laser just inside the third-base bag, scoring Mills from second. Tinora led 1-0.  After Reynolds stole second base, Hunt would work out of the jam, allowing just the one run.

Sten would send the Panthers down in order in the bottom of the sixth, preserving the 1-0 Rams lead.

Tinora looked for an insurance run in the top of the seventh and plated two more, grabbing a 3-0 lead. Kolten Snyder started the rally with a leadoff single. Jaed Neff, as he has done all season, laid down the perfect sac bunt, moving pinch runner Garrett Sheets into scoring position with one out. Ayden Moser drew a walk, putting Tinora runners at first and second. Ryan Mills laced a two-out single into right field, scoring Sheets. Tinora led 2-0. Owen Reynolds walked to load the bases off Hunt. Parker Hancock, a second-team All GMC selection, reached on an infield error, scoring Moser. Tinora led 3-0 going into the bottom of the seventh.

Stein allowed a baserunner in the final frame on a single to Zach Barton. He retired the final two Panthers to secure his sixth win and the 14th overall GMC title for the Tinora Rams baseball program. Stein would allow just the two hits, while striking out seven, pitching the Rams to the GMC Title.

Paulding drops to 8-10, finishing 2-5 in the GMC.  The Panthers will travel to Miller City on Thursday.

The Tinora Rams improved to 15-3-1, finishing atop the GMC standings with Fairview, 6-1.  The Rams will host Swanton on Thursday from Grube Field.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to the entire Rams baseball team and staff.  Congratulations!

Logan Stein would move into fourth place on the single-season sktikeout list with 66 on the season, trailing only Ethan McKenny (111), Tyler McKenny (91), and Brett Wonders (78)

GMC Champions photo: Tinora AD Jake Essig

Watch the thriller back below: