Tinora 6 Paulding 3

The Tinora Rams looked to defend their five straight GMC title as they welcomed in the Paulding Panthers in the 2023 Green Meadows Conference opener.

The Rams sent senior righty Korbin Casteel to the hill, while the Panthers sent Jacob Martinez.

Casteel had limited opportunities in the 2022 season, but his opportunities were limited with a staff of Commisso, Schafer, Wolfrum, and Plassman.

On Thursday evening at Grube Field, Castell made the most of his start. Casteel would pitch four solid innings of baseball, allowing just one run, striking out three, and walking just one.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning, the Rams then broke through with four runs in the frame to grab a 4-0 lead.

Ayden Moser drew a one-out walk to start the Tinora rally. Shortstop Kadyn Radzik singled to put runners at first and second. Alec Schaublin would follow with a single to load the bases. Teron Ward would come through in the clutch with a two-run double, scoring both Moser and Radzik. Tinora led 2-0.
Senior Like Harris would drop the perfect sacrifice bunt, scoring Schaublin. On the play, Paulding pitcher Jacob Martinez would throw out Harris at first, but the Rams Ward hustling all the way through would score on the throw, putting Tinora on top 4-1 after three innings.

Paulding would finally break the ice in the fourth inning. Trailing 4-1, the Panthers Kane Jones would draw a leadoff walk. Jones would advance to second on a groundout. Jones would score on an RBI single by Ethan Foltz, and Paulding trailed 4-1.

Tinora would escape a Panther rally at the top of the fifth. After back-to-back singles, Rams headman Brent Renollet would replace Casteel with Eli Plassman. Plassman, coming in off a win on Tuesday night, looked to slam the door on the Paulding rally.
Plassman would record the first two outs after replacing Casteel. Casey Agler would send a blooper into shallow right field. With Luke Harris coming in from right field, Tinora second baseman Alec Schaublin would make a great over-the-shoulder catch, thwarting the Panthers rally, saving the Rams 4-1 lead.

Tinora would grab a much-needed insurance run in the fifth. Luke Harris would walk with two outs, followed by a Dalton Wolfrum single, putting Ram runners at the corners, still with two outs. Hunter Bostelman would drive home Harris with the Rams fifth run, giving Tinora a 5-1 lead through five innings.

The Rams added a sixth run in the bottom part of the sixth inning as Alec Schaublin would add an RBI single, scoring Moser, putting the Rams up 6-1 through six innings.

With Plassman still on the hill for the Rams, Paulding started a last second rally in their last at-bat. Larkin Yates started a one out rally with a single off Plassman. Kane Jones drilled a double over the head of Tinora centerfielder Grady Gustwiller, putting Panther runners at second and third. Casey Agler pulled the Panthers to within 6-3 with a two RBI single, scoring both runners.

Tinora’s Plassman would put out the fire, getting the final two outs, preserving the win for Casteel.

Tinora improved to 4-0. The Rams will travel north to Michigan on Saturday, taking on Bedford at 2 pm.

Paulding falls to 2-5. The Panthers will play host to Edon.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the game goes to Korbin Casteel. Congratulations Korbin!