Prep Baseball Report

PBR Spotlight Game: #7 Bryan vs #18 Napoleon



By Dylan Hefflinger
Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

PBR Ohio has all of your high school baseball coverage across the state covered.

Visit our scout blog, which includes velocity, pop times and in-depth scouting reports. The blog will be updated throughout the entire spring, with information on top prospects and top performances, click here.

To view the 2015 Team Rankings, click here.

To view the 2015 Preseason All-State Teams, click here.

To discuss this game, please visit our partner JJHuddle.

PBR Spotlight Game: #7 Bryan vs #18 Napoleon

Bailey Martin vs NapoleonBRYAN – Two of the top teams in Division II squared off on a cool, windy day at Sumpter Field in Bryan. The 7th-ranked team in D-II, the Bryan Golden Bears (1-0) shut out the 18th-ranked Napoleon Wildcats 7-0 thanks to a dominating performance by unsigned senior Bailey Martin (pictured right).

The 6-foot-4, 175-pound righty gave up a single to Defiance College commit Michael Gilliand (ranked 92nd) to start the game, but only allowed three more Wildcats to reach base in his six innings on the mound.

Napoleon's (0-1) best chance to score came in the 1st and 6th innings.

In the 1st, Gilliland reached on a single, stole second and advanced to third on a ground out before being stranded at third as Martin (ranked 85th) ended the inning with one of his 12 strikeouts.

In the 6th, Brock Leatherman (senior) reached on an infield single off of Martin's cleats. Leatherman then reached second after Martin's third walk of the game, but once again the unsigned senior took matters in his own hand and struck out the next batter, getting the Golden Bears out of trouble.

Bryan's offense had to face one of the top pitchers in the 2016 class, Layne Schnitz-Paxton (Toledo commit, 7th ranked in 2016 class), and failed to push across any runs for the first three inning. The righty struck out four while also inducing a huge 4-6-3 double play to end the 2nd inning.

The Golden Bears finally got things going in the 4th and tacked on more runs in the 5th and 6th innings.

In the 4th, unsigned senior catcher Derek Knisely (ranked 136) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a Paris Creek sacrifice bunt which led to the biggest play of the game.

Martin came to the plate with Knisely at second and the right-handed hitter grounded a ball back to his counterpart on the mound. Schnitz-Paxton caught Knisely in a rundown between second and third, forcing Knisely back toward second. However,  Schnitz-Paxton's throw to second was dropped putting runners on 1st and 3rd. It led to a big inning.

After a strikeout, Knisely scored on a wild pitch. Another walk put two on for one of the top two-way players in NW Ohio, Deylen Miley (43rd ranked in 2016 class). The right-handed hitter didn't disappoint, roping a two-out, two-run double to right-center field, giving the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead.

In the 5th, unsigned senior Kyle Rupp produced with a one-out double, ending the day for Schnitz-Paxton.

Talented 2016 right-hander Derek Gerken (48th ranked in 2016 class) was next on the mound for Napoleon.

An infield single, strikeout, walk, RBI single, walk and ground out followed as the Golden Bears stretched their lead to 5-0.

Bryan then tacked on two more against Dylan Kirkendall (junior). Senior Conner Terrell greeted Kirkendall with a double before unsigned senior Nate Rau (ranked 170) was plunked. Rupp then singled and Knisely laid down a squeeze as Bryan's lead went to 7-0.

Top Performances on the day

+ Bailey Martin: Picked up the win on the mound, going six strong shutout innings allowing just two hits, two walks while striking out 12.

+ Deylen Miley: 1-3 at the plate with a double, walk, two RBIs.

+ Kyle Rupp: 2-3 at the plare with a single, double, walks, one RBI.

Linescore

Napoleon 000 000 0 - 0 2 3

Bryan       000 322 X - 7 7 4

Records: Bryan 1-0, Napoleon 0-1

Winning pitcher: Bailey Martin (6 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 12 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Paris Creek.

Losing pitcher: Layne Schnitz-Paxton (4.1 innings, 4 runs, 4 hits, 5 strikeouts, 4 walks). Others: Derek Gerken, Dylan Kirkendall

Leading hitters: (Bryan) - Deylen Miley double; Kyle Rupp double.

Top Headlines for the Buckeye State