PBR Spotlight Game: No. 8 Wapakoneta at No. 1 Defiance
April 20, 2012
By Dylan Hefflinger
DEFIANCE- There was some exciting action in the 1st inning as two of the top Division II teams in the state met on Friday. No. 1 Defiance (12-1) and No. 8 Wapakoneta (12-3) each scored 2 runs, but Mother Nature must not have been too impressed, as rain brought a halt to the action postponing the game after an hour wait.
DEFIANCE- There was some exciting action in the 1st inning as two of the top Division II teams in the state met on Friday. No. 1 Defiance (12-1) and No. 8 Wapakoneta (12-3) each scored 2 runs, but Mother Nature must not have been too impressed, as rain brought a halt to the action postponing the game after an hour wait.
The two Division II powerhouses will pick up play in the 2nd inning on Friday, May 11th at 5 p.m. tied at 2-2 with Wapak coming to bat in the top of the inning.
Louisville commit Anthony Kidston was on the mound for the Bulldogs. The senior right-hander came into the game with a 0.61 ERA allowing just 2 runs all season, but that didn't stop Wapak in the first inning.
Kidston got in trouble right off the bat, walking the first batter of the game before a sacrifice bunt by Josh Apple and another walk followed. After a passed ball, strikeout and stolen base, catcher Brandon Schreiber connected on a change-up for a 2-out single to plate 2 runs.
Kidston, who topped out at 88 in the 1st inning, showed an impressive change-up which was in the low 70s with a lot of downward movement.
Chace Culver took the hill for the Redskins, with the sophomore right-hander coming in with a 2.41 ERA allowing 7 earned runs in 20 1/3 innings pitched coming into the contest. Culver, who topped out at 85 mph, allowed a 1-out single by Joe Keween and, after a strikeout of Kidston, senior catcher Joe Gentile roped a double to right-center plating Keween.
With Gentile getting a big lead, junior shortstop Apple moved toward 2nd for a pickoff play. However, Culver threw home as Apple worked to get back in his shortstop position. With Apple moving to his right, junior Rob Zeigler hit Culver's pitch up the middle. The shot went off Apple's glove into center plating Gentile with the tying run.
An out later the inning ended and the rains came sending everyone to cover at 5:21. An hour later, the game was called.