Championship hopes stayed alive for both Bellefontaine and Indian Lake on Tuesday night as each survived tense winner’s bracket semifinal matchups in the Senior ACME District Tournament. The Chieftains leaned on strong pitching and a clutch sixth-inning triple to slip past Benjamin Logan 3-2, while the Lakers answered every Covington rally before completing a thrilling 6-5 walk-off victory to set up an all-local winner’s bracket final.
Sr. ACME Baseball District Tournament
Bellefontaine 3, Benjamin Logan 2
Bellefontaine survived a late rally from Benjamin Logan, scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning to edge the Raiders 3-2 in a winner’s bracket semifinal matchup.
Maddox Miller was in command from the opening pitch, retiring all three Benjamin Logan batters on groundouts to the left side of the infield in the first inning before the Chieftain offense struck quickly.
Sammy Kline lined a one-out double to center field, and Aven Caudill followed by launching a two-run home run over the center field fence to give Bellefontaine an early 2-0 advantage after one inning.
Miller continued to dominate through the middle innings, tossing perfect second and third innings before working around a two-out hit batter in the fourth to keep the Raiders off the scoreboard.
Benjamin Logan starter Jacob Hawley settled in after the opening inning but escaped trouble in the fourth. Lincoln Banta drew a leadoff walk, and Ean Fultz followed with his second single of the game before Hudson Konz laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Hawley responded with a shallow flyout and a strikeout of Nicholas Beair to strand both runners and keep the deficit at two.
The Raiders finally broke through in the fifth. Hawley led off with a double and was replaced by courtesy runner Liam Elsasser, who scored on Carrick Spriggs’ RBI single to left field. Benjamin Logan later loaded the bases with two outs, but Miller induced a groundout to shortstop to preserve Bellefontaine’s 2-1 lead.
Hawley worked a scoreless fifth inning, and the Raiders pulled even in the sixth. Parker Yelton opened the inning with a single before Hawley drew a one-out walk. With two outs and runners on first and second, both runners advanced on a throwing error by the Bellefontaine catcher, and another errant relay allowed Yelton to score the tying run while Hawley advanced to third. Miller stranded Hawley there to keep the game tied at 2-2.
Bellefontaine answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Caudill led off with an infield single, and Banta followed by driving a triple to center field to bring home the go-ahead run. The Chieftains were unable to add insurance, taking a 3-2 lead into the seventh.
Benjamin Logan mounted one final threat in the seventh as Gavin Reidmiller drew a leadoff walk and courtesy runner Bode Clapsaddle advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Clapsaddle was then picked off second base before Sammy Kline, who entered in relief, struck out Oliver Morse to secure the victory and send Bellefontaine on in the winner’s bracket.
Caudill led the Chieftain offense by going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs batted in. Fultz also collected two hits, while Kline, Sutton Daring and Banta each added a hit. Banta drove in the game-winning run with his sixth-inning triple.
Miller earned the win after pitching six innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out four. Kline picked up the save by working the seventh inning, allowing one walk and striking out the final batter of the game.
For Benjamin Logan, Yelton, Hawley, and Spriggs each recorded a hit, with Spriggs driving in the Raiders’ lone RBI. Hawley turned in a strong complete-game effort, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings.
Indian Lake 6, Covington 5
Indian Lake erased two late deficits and walked off Covington 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Chance Persinger delivering the game-winning RBI single to send the Lakers into the winner’s bracket final.
Lane Kipker opened the game with a perfect first inning, retiring the Buccaneers in order. Covington starter answered with a dominant inning of his own, striking out the side while working around a two-out single by Aaron Rapp.
The Buccaneers struck first in the second inning. A leadoff walk was followed by a bunt that rolled down the first-base line, and an Indian Lake error allowed the lead runner to score. Kipker recovered by striking out the side, but Covington carried a 1-0 lead.
The Lakers answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Reed Strayer drew a one-out walk, and Jaxon Snipes followed with a single to center. Mack Jarvis then reached on a fielder’s choice, and an errant throw home allowed Strayer to score, evening the game at 1-1 after two innings.
Covington regained the lead in the third after an error at shortstop put a runner aboard. The runner stole second before scoring on a line-drive single to center field to make it 2-1.
Indian Lake responded once again in the bottom of the third. Grant Wickline and Brady Golliday opened the inning with singles before Aaron Rapp was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kipker lifted a sacrifice fly to center that turned into a double play when Golliday was thrown out trying to advance to third, but Wickline crossed the plate before the out was recorded to tie the game at 2-2.
Both pitchers cruised through the fourth inning, with Kipker striking out two batters. Covington broke through in the fifth after Kipker recorded his eighth strikeout of the game. Back-to-back singles produced the go-ahead run, and a double to right field added another to give the Buccaneers a 4-2 advantage. Wickline entered in relief and ended the inning with a strikeout.
After a scoreless bottom of the fifth, Wickline struck out the side in the sixth before the Lakers rallied. Persinger singled and stole second, while Strayer worked a walk. Persinger stole third and scored on an error at third base before Jarvis lined an RBI single to center to score Strayer, tying the game at 4-4 after six innings.
Covington answered again in the seventh. After Wickline struck out the first two batters of the inning, a single and another Indian Lake error allowed the Buccaneers to reclaim a 5-4 lead.
The Lakers had one final response. Golliday opened the bottom of the seventh with a single and stole second before Rapp lined an RBI single to right field to score the tying run. Colt Volbrecht entered as a pinch runner and advanced to second before attempting to score on a bunt by Kipker after a throwing error by the catcher, but was thrown out at the plate. Kipker advanced to second on the play, and moments later Persinger lined a single into right field to bring home the winning run and complete the 6-5 comeback victory.
Persinger led the Indian Lake offense with two hits, including the walk-off RBI single. Golliday and Rapp also collected two hits apiece, while Jarvis drove in two runs.
Indian Lake pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts. Kipker struck out eight over 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on four hits and one walk. Wickline earned the victory in relief, allowing one unearned run on one hit while striking out six over the final 2 1/3 innings.
Bellefontaine and Indian Lake will meet in the winner’s bracket final on Wednesday, July 8, at 5:30 p.m. The winner will advance to the district championship game, while the loser will have another opportunity to reach the title game through the loser’s bracket.
The game will be broadcast free on PeakofOhioTV.com and on the Peak of Ohio TV Roku channel.
