NORWALK - In search of an outright Northern Ohio League title, Columbian's pitching produced a masterful game against Norwalk.
The problem was that Columbian's defense and offense struggled against Norwalk. The Truckers scored a pair of unearned runs in the first inning off starter Tyler Fuhrer. Fuhrer departed and was replaced by Daniel Wood, who went five scoreless, hitless innings.
But Columbian's offense managed just two hits, and fell to the Truckers, 2-0.
That result, combined with a Bellevue win over Sandusky, created a three-way tie for the NOL crown, with all three teams standing at 7-3.
Columbian coach Curt Mellott said Columbian's defense, which committed five errors, was a key.
"That's the bottom line, we had a couple errors in the first inning," he said.
Fact Box
Norwalk 2, Columbian 0
Columbian (13-6, 7-3): Jonah Boyer 2-0-0-0; Nick Loura 4-0-0-0; Tyler Fuhrer 3-0-1-0; Carter Mullins 3-0-0-0; Mike Rohrbach 3-0-0-0; Logan Tracy 2-0-0-0; Vince Anway 1-0-0-0; Daniel Wood 3-0-1-0; Bryce Lonsway 1-0-0-0; Nate Hoyda 0-0-0-0. Totals: 22-0-2-0.
Norwalk (7-3): Perry 3-0-0-0; Davis 2-1-0-0; Lieber 2-1-0-0; Bader 2-0-0-0; Malson 2-0-0-0; Finch 3-0-0-0; Rhodes 2-0-0-0; Hull 1-0-0-0; Ritchie 1-0-0-0; Soutrer 0-0-0-0. Totals: 18-2-0-0.
Columbian 000 000 0 - 0
Norwalk 200 000 X - 2
WP - Soutrer. LP - Fuhrer.
2B - Wood (TC).
Arlington 18, Old Fort 5
Arlington (12-8): A. Inniger 6-2-2-0; J. Freed 5-2-1-0; M. Cheney 3-3-1-1; C. Freed 6-2-2-3; N. Price 3-2-0-0; S. Hatton 4-3-2-0; M. Werst 5-2-2-1; P.J. Hatton 1-2-0-0; S. Yates 5-0-2-1. Totals 38-18-12-6.
Old Fort: (1-16): Garet Kimmet 3-1-0-0; Cole Davidson 3-2-2-0; Brad Heilman 4-1-3-1; A.J. Phillimore 1-1-1-0; Zack Thompson 2-0-0-1; Matt Goodman 2-0-0-0; Jake Wilson 3-0-0-1; Brandon Tittle 3-0-0-0; Elliot Phillimore 2-0-0-0; Matt Wilson 1-0-0-0; Rob Root 0-0-0-0. Totals 25-5-6-3.
Arlington2142225 - 18
Old Fort2000300 - 5
WP: M. Cheney; LP: J. Wilson (0-3).
2B: Inniger (A), Freed (A), C. Freed (A), Heilman (OF).
Wood hit a double for the Tornadoes, and Fuhrer singled. But that was it for the Tornadoes' offense.
"It wasn't as if we had bad at-bats, we just couldn't string enough together," Mellott said. "I think everybody feels... we had a good effort. It wasn't a question of effort."
Columbian's season is not over, of course. It has some regular season games left, plus a sectional semifinal Saturday at Clyde against Shelby at 12:30 p.m.
Upper Sandusky's Binau a beast in victory
Buckeye Central pick up Silver Division title thanks to CC loss
NORTH ROBINSON - Cameron Binau picked up his first victory of the season Thursday night thanks to a superb pitching performance and timely hitting.
Binau (1-3) picked up the complete game victory in a 2-1 win against North Central Conference rival Colonel Crawford. He allowed just six hits and a run.
In the seventh inning, Garrett Huston reached on an error and went all the way to third on the bad throw. He scored when Binau hit a two-out RBI single.
Binau's was one of just three Rams' hits, with Beau Brown and Alec Oney getting the other singles.
Mitch Cook and Austin Adams each had doubles for the Eagles. Adams took the loss on the mound.
The Rams improve to 8-11, 6-5 in the NCC.
Meanwhile, thanks to the Eagles loss, Buckeye Central picks up the Silver Division crown outright. The Bucks, who were idle Thursday night, haven't won a league crown since 1973.
Arlington devilish to Old Fort
OLD FORT - Old Fort started well but so did Arlington on Thursday night.
The difference was that the Old Fort bats went quiet and the Red Devils' did not. Arlington (12-8) scored in every inning in a 18-5 victory.
For Old Fort, Brad Heilman was 3 for 4 on the day, with a double and two singles, driving in one. Zack Thompson and Jake Wilson (0-3), who took the loss, each drove in a run. Cole Davidson had two hits and A.J. Phillimore rounded out the Old Fort (1-16) hitting with a single.
St. Wendelin run-ruled by Vanlue
VANLUE - A nine-run sixth inning by Vanlue took a close game and turned it into a 13-3 blowout victory against St. Wendelin.
The Wildcats (6-10), who have won five straight, led 4-3 going into the sixth before the outburst. Nick Hagerty, who picked up the pitching victory, had three hits and three RBIs. Jeremy Javersak doubled among his three hits, driving in two.
George Iannantuono drove in two with his double and single and Josh Digby had two singles for the Mohawks (1-18). Brad Buhrow took the loss for St. Wendelin.
