GALION — Galion picked up a 7-4 Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference win over Northmor on Tuesday.
Picking up the win for Galion on the mound was Mac Spears. He pitched five innings, allowing just two hits and two earned runs while walking three and striking out seven. Spears had a no-hitter headed into the fourth before Northmor’s Mostyn Evans led off the inning with a single, his only hit of the game. Evans would also score the Knights’ first run of the contest. Cameron Payne relieved Spears to start the sixth and went a third of an inning, allowing four hits and two earned runs while walking a batter. Ryan Talbott pitched the rest of the game and pick up the three-run save by allowing just a single hit while striking out one.
Hunter Mariotti was the losing pitcher for Northmor, lasting just two and a third innings while allowing two hits, including a grand slam by Garrett Kuns in the top of the third inning. In total, Mariotti allowed seven runs (four earned) and walked six Tigers hitters. Sam Eichorn pitched the rest of the game in relief, walking a batter and fanning two.
Outside of the Kuns grand slam in the third, the only other hit recorded by Galion was a single by Payne in the top of the second. All of the other offensive damage done by the Tigers was thanks in part to fielder’s choice plays and walks.
Talbott got the game started after being hit by a pitch. Talbott proceeded to steal second base and then took third on a fielder’s choice hit by Mitch Dyer. A wild pitch would plate Talbott for the early 1-0 Galion advantage.
Scoring picked back up again in the top of the second when a routine play led to a throwing error, landing Will Donahue at second base. Ryan Utz then laid down what was meant to be a sacrifice bunt before Mariotti overthrew first base, allowing Donahue to score Galion’s second run.
The Tigers led off the third inning with Payne’s single. A walk to Talbott and Dyer being hit by a pitch loaded the bases for Kuns, who jumped on the first pitch offering from Mariotti that landed on the hill by the football field bleachers. Donahue scored again for Galion to put the visitors up 7-0. The Tigers bats and opportunities disappeared after the third but the early offense would prove to be enough at the end of the game.
Northmor finally got the offense going in the home half of the fourth when Evans’ lead-off single got him on base and eventually to home plate after a Conor Becker RBI single. The Knights would tack on another run when Jordan Wiseman came around to home.
The Knights would go silently in the fifth before getting back on the board in the bottom of the sixth. After a flyout by Nate Hall, Wiseman walked. Ryland Thomas would pinch run for Wiseman and eventually score the first run of the inning after a Tyler Kegley RBI single. Austin Wheeler would later drive in Becker with a single.
Northmor’s late-inning surge ended when pinch hitter Kade Sayre grounded into the inning ending 6-4-3 double play.
Galion 6, Buckeye Valley 5
GALION — Galion upped its record to 14-8 overall Wednesday with a 6-5 win over Buckeye Central. The Tigers are 8-4 in the MOAC.
Galion scored six runs on nine hits, committed one error and stranded four. Buckeye Valley had five runs on 12 hits, committed two errors and left nine on base.
Mac Spears had a big game for the Tigers, delivering a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh for the win. That single was Spears’ only hit for the game.
Garrett Kuns was also busy at the plate. He recorded a single and a double, scored two runs and drove in a run. Ryan Utz and Aaron Barnhart delivered a single and a run scored each for the home team on the day. Chase Castline and Mitch Dyer also belted a single apiece for the Tigers’ offense.
Will Donahue got the start on the hill for Galion and went 5 and a third innings while allowing nine hits and two runs (one earned) while walking one and striking out one. Donahue also had a single at the plate. Ryan Talbott would be the winning pitcher for the Tigers, throwing the remaining one and two-third innings, scattering three hits and allowing three runs (two earned). Talbott helped his cause at the plate and on the bases, recording a single, two runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI.
Galion is expected to host Centerburg today for a doubleheader.
Colonel Crawford 11, Buckeye Central 0
NORTH ROBINSON — On Wednesday, Colonel Crawford made quick work of Buckeye Central, winning 11-0 in five innings. Crawford is 11-9 overall and 7-7 in the N-10.
Colonel Crawford got the offense going quickly when Kaden Schell led off the bottom of the first with a single and then proceeded to steal second. Blake Treisch would later drive Schell in with an RBI single.
The bats continued to swing in the bottom of the second when the Eagles tacked on an additional three runs. Noah Thoman started the frame off with a double and would later cross home after a 3-RBI double by Jake Johnson.
Another lead off double began the home half of the third. Treisch belted the double and would score later on a Thomas double. Cameron Spangler would then drive in Thoman to put up a two-spot for the Eagles.
Crawford would put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth with a five-run explosion. Schell would again lead off with a single and swiped second and score on another Johnson double. A single by Ethan Studer, a double by Spencer Mutchler with a costly error and missed strike out in between would lead to the remaining runs.
In total, the Eagles racked up 11 hits to plate their 11 runs and committed just one error. Buckeye Central had four hits, all singles and committed two errors while being shut out.
Gavin Feichtner pitched a gem on the hill for the Eagles, throwing a complete game shutout while allowing just four hits and striking out six. Feichtner would score one of 11 runs for Crawford on the day.
Schell had two singles and three runs scored for Crawford; Johnson had two doubles and a run scored; Treisch, a single and a double and two runs scored; and Thoman, two doubles and three runs scored. Mutchler had a double and Studer and Spangler hit singles.
