State-ranked Trojans survive scare at New London

May 10—NEW LONDON — State-ranked South Central survived a scare — and kept a grip on sole possession of first place in the Firelands Conference — on the road Monday.

The Trojans — ranked No. 20 in this week's Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association state poll in Division IV — started a stretch of nine games in 11 days with a 9-7 win in eight innings at New London.

The Trojans took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but the Wildcats plated four runs and had the winning run at third base with two outs. But South Central got out of the inning, then scored twice in the top of the eighth for the win.

With the win, South Central improved to 13-3 overall and 7-1 in the FC, which is a game ahead of St. Paul (14-6, 10-2) and Crestview (11-7, 9-2).

Karl Ferber and Kayden Hauler hit back-to-back singles with one out in the eighth, then Carson Music was intentionally walked to load the bases for a force out at any base.

But Ferber and Hauler both scored on a wild pitch for a 9-7 lead.

New London (3-14, 2-11) had two runners on with one out in the bottom of the eighth, but reliever Sam Seidel got a ground ball out and a pop out to Hauler from the catcher position to end the game.

Hauler was 3 for 4 with an RBI and Ferber was 3 for 5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI for the Trojans. Seidel doubled twice and drove in a pair, while Brandon Mitchell also had two hits that included a double.

Music went the first 6 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Seidel wen the final 1 2/3 innings with no runs on one hit with a pair of strikeouts.

Gage Carroll was 2 for 2 with three RBIs for the Wildcats, while Jacob Bilton singled and drove in a pair. Logan Girton and Steven Justavick each singled and had an RBI.

The two teams will meet again on Tuesday in Greenwich.

S. Central 140 100 1 — 7 9 2

N. London 101 001 1 — 4 5 2

WP: Music; LP: Justavick

2B: (SC) Seidel 2, Ferber, Mitchell

St. Paul 11, Monroeville 0

MONROEVILLE — The Div. IV No. 17-ranked Flyers scored in every inning en route to a five-inning road win in FC play over the host Eagles at Clark Park.

With the win, the Flyers (14-6, 10-2) remain tied with Crestview in second place, one game behind first-place South Central.

Kaden Maxwell was 4 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs for St. Paul. Jaycob Stanley was 2 for 2 with an RBI, while Thomas Bocock also had two hits. Ben Burger singled with two RBIs, while Luke Blum and Ashton Stang each had a single and an RBI.

On the mound, Eli Fisher and Kole Maxwell each went two scoreless innings, and Blum threw a scoreless fifth. The trio combined to allow four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

"Really liked how we played today," St. Paul coach Aaron Fries said. "I was especially pleased with our pitching. With the long layoff (seven days), I was concerned we might be a little inconsistent in the strike zone — but we worked from ahead from the beginning.

"Eli, Kole, and Luke all pitched well and we were pretty good in the field," he added. "It was a good start to a critical week of conference play."

For Monroeville (0-21, 0-13), Ashton Homan, Landin Hershiser, Austin Nichols and Ben Seitz each singled.

St. Paul 131 42 — 11 12 1

Monroeville 000 00 — 0 4 4

WP: Fisher; LP: Nichols

3B: (SP) Ka. Maxwell

Mapleton 5, W. Reserve 2

ORANGE TWP. — The host Mounties broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to drop Western to 7-10 overall and 4-8 in the FC.

Luke Cunningham doubled, while Mason Kinney singled and drove in a run for the Roughriders. Carson roe singled and scored, and Rhett Gross added a hit.

Cam Hankins went six innings for Western. He allowed five earned runs on nine hits with a strikeout and two walks.

Western will host the Mounties on Tuesday and South Central on Wednesday to close out FC play.

W. Reserve 001 100 0 — 2 4 2

Mapleton 011 003 x — 5 9 2

WP: Recker; LP: Hankins

2B: (M) Benner, Wrobleski, Syx; (WR) Cunningham

Crestview 6, Plymouth 0

PLYMOUTH — The Big Red fell to 12-6 overall and 8-4 in the FC with Monday's shutout loss to the visiting Cougars.

The two teams will rematch again on Tuesday in Olivesburg, then the No. 24-ranked Big Red will host St. Paul on Wednesday to wrap up FC play.

Lexington 4, Norwalk 2

LEXINGTON — The host Minutemen (6-11) scored four runs in the bottom of first inning and made it stand in Mondays win over Div. II No. 18-ranked Norwalk.

With the loss, the Truckers fell to 13-6 overall. Norwalk stranded eight baserunners in the non-league loss.

Ian Minor doubled and drove in two runs, while Sam Battles and Caleb Sommers also each hit a double. Kelton Chapin finished 2 for 3, and Ryan Fox and Bray Malson added singles.

Jesse Cole pitched one inning and allowed three earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Buddy Baker worked three scoreless innings with three strikeouts and a walk, and Chapin went two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts.

It wasn't all bad news for the Truckers on Monday, however. With Bellevue's win over Tiffin Columbian, Norwalk is now one game off the pace in the SBC Lake Division.

Norwalk visits Clyde (9-11, 4-6) on Wednesday and Columbian (15-4, 7-2) on Thursday. With a pair of wins, it would earn at least a share of the league title.

Norwalk 101 000 0 — 2 7 4

Lexington 400 000 x — 4 9 0

WP: Goetz; LP: Baker

2B: (N) Battles, Sommers, Minor; (L) Murnaw, Pauley

Willard 4, Port Clinton 3

PORT CLINTON — Willard scored two runs in the top of the sixth and held on for a 4-3 win over Port Clinton.

Anthony Aukerman and Brayden Spencer each had two hits for the Redskins (6-13, 1-7).

Willard 200 002 0 — 4 7 2

Port Clinton 010 110 0 — 3 9 1

WP: E Rodriguez. LP: Anthony Aukerman

2B: (W) Potts, Cinniger; (PC) Brayden Spencer