Sr. ACME District Tournament
Bellefontaine 12, Indian Lake 1 (5 innings)
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Bellefontaine punched its ticket to the District Final with a commanding 12-1 victory over Indian Lake in a winner’s bracket matchup, fueled by a six-RBI performance from Ean Fultz and a complete-game effort from Sammy Kline.
The Chieftains wasted no time taking control in the opening inning. Sutton Daring was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, and Aven Caudill reached on an error before Fultz lined a two-out, two-run single back through the middle to give Bellefontaine an early 2-0 lead.
Kline worked around a one-out single by Brady Golliday in the bottom of the first, striking out two batters before Golliday was caught in a rundown after being picked off first base to end the inning.
Indian Lake threatened in the second after Rush Hurley settled in with two strikeouts to strand a leadoff double, then cut into the deficit in the bottom half. Lane Kipker singled to open the inning and scored on Jaxon Snipes’ RBI triple to center, but Kline stranded Snipes at third with two strikeouts and a groundout to preserve Bellefontaine’s 2-1 advantage.
The Chieftains answered immediately in the third with another two-out rally. Caudill singled and Lincoln Banta doubled to put two runners in scoring position before Fultz delivered again, lining another two-run single to center to stretch the lead to 4-1.
Kline continued to cruise in the bottom of the third, striking out the first batter he faced and working around a pair of two-out hit batters to keep the Lakers off the board.
Bellefontaine broke the game open with a six-run fourth inning. Hayden Shreve and Nicholas Beair each reached safely and scored on a wild pitch and an Aiden Smith sacrifice fly to make it 6-1. Daring then walked and stole second before Kline ripped a two-run single to left.
After the Chieftains loaded the bases, Fultz capped his outstanding day with a two-run double to left, his first extra-base hit of the Senior ACME season, pushing the lead to 10-1.
Shreve later lined his second double of the game to center, driving in two more runs to send Bellefontaine into the bottom of the fourth with a commanding 12-1 advantage.
Kline encountered his only trouble in the fourth after issuing back-to-back walks but responded by striking out his sixth batter of the game to escape the inning without allowing a run.
Bellefontaine went down in order in the fifth before Kline returned to finish off the run-rule victory. He struck out the leadoff hitter before inducing consecutive flyouts to complete the 12-1 win and send the Chieftains to the District Final.
Fultz and Kline describe the win and give their thoughts after the game.
Fultz led the Bellefontaine offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, driving in six runs, including two RBI singles and a two-run double. Shreve also went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, while Kline added a two-run single in the fourth inning.
Kline earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings. He threw 89 pitches, including 54 strikes, and faced 21 batters in the run-rule win.
Bellefontaine advances to Friday’s District Championship, while Indian Lake drops into the loser’s bracket final tomorrow to face the winner of the remaining elimination game below.
Covington 6, Benjamin Logan 5
Benjamin Logan’s tournament run came to an end Wednesday as Covington erased an early three-run deficit to defeat the Raiders 6-5 in the loser’s bracket final, advancing to the final elimination game against Indian Lake.
Covington threatened in the opening inning with a one-out single, but Benjamin Logan starter Cohen Archer escaped the jam by inducing a 6-4-3 double play. Shortstop Oliver Morse started the twin killing by throwing to second baseman Xavier Allen, who completed the relay to first baseman Jacob Hawley.
The Raider offense was retired in order in the bottom of the first as Covington’s starter recorded a pair of strikeouts.
Archer worked around a leadoff walk in the second, ending the inning with a strikeout and a throw to first to complete the out on a dropped third strike before Benjamin Logan struck first in the bottom half.
Archer singled to left to begin the inning, and Bode Clapsaddle followed with a walk. Gavin Reidmiller then hit a ground ball to shortstop that resulted in a force out at second, but an errant relay throw allowed Archer to score the game’s first run, giving the Raiders a 1-0 lead after two innings.
Archer turned in his strongest inning in the third, striking out the first two Buccaneers before inducing a groundout to keep Covington off the scoreboard.
Benjamin Logan added to its lead in the bottom of the third. Maximus Clapsaddle drew a leadoff walk before one-out singles from Morse and Allen loaded the bases. Hawley grounded into a fielder’s choice at home for the second out, but Carrick Spriggs reached on a shortstop error that allowed both Morse and Allen to score, stretching the Raider advantage to 3-0.
Covington answered in the fourth, collecting three singles to plate its first run before executing a successful steal of home to cut the deficit to 3-2. Archer stranded additional runners by striking out the final two batters of the inning.
The Raiders managed only a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth before Covington completed its comeback in the fifth. A walk and a single opened the inning, and after Archer recorded the first out, Allen entered in relief. A groundout, combined with defensive miscues, brought home the tying run before a pickoff error allowed another run to score, giving the Buccaneers their first lead at 4-3.
Benjamin Logan was unable to answer in the bottom of the fifth, and Covington added insurance in the sixth. Oliver Morse took over on the mound and worked around a walk and a single before a double steal moved both runners into scoring position. Morse struck out the next two batters, but a two-out, two-run single to left extended the Buccaneers’ lead to 6-3.
The Raiders battled back in the bottom of the sixth. Hawley reached on an error to open the inning and later scored after another Covington error on a ground ball by Archer. Bode Clapsaddle walked, and Reidmiller reached on a dropped third strike, allowing Archer to score and trim the deficit to 6-5 before a strikeout ended the rally.
Morse kept Benjamin Logan within one by striking out the final two batters in the top of the seventh after surrendering a one-out single, giving the Raiders one last opportunity.
Roman Williams drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh, but a fielder’s choice left Morse at first with one out. Morse stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, putting the tying run 90 feet away. Benjamin Logan’s season came to an end on the next play as Allen’s bunt back to the pitcher resulted in Morse being thrown out at the plate before the return throw completed a game-ending double play.
Four Raiders recorded one hit apiece as Morse, Allen, Archer and Williams each finished with a single. Archer scored twice, while Hawley, Morse and Allen each crossed the plate once.
Covington advances to face Indian Lake in the final loser’s bracket game, with the winner earning a spot against Bellefontaine in Friday’s District Championship Series.
