Bulldogs get bats out

CELINA - Timely hitting allowed Celina to put up some runs against Parkway.

The Bulldogs had 12 hits and scored at least a run in four of their final five at-bats to pick up a 9-6 ACME win over Parkway on Monday night at Montgomery Field.

Celina did the bulk of its damage in the second through fourth innings and added what became three big runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Bulldogs pounded out 12 hits - 11 being singles - for the game.

"We hit a lot today compared to our games last week," Celina coach Jimmy Luebke said. "That kind of surprised me. It was pretty good, though."

The hit parade for Celina was bolstered by strong pitching by Ethan Piper through the first innings. Seth Stukey's two-out triple in the top of the first was the only hit for the Panthers until the sixth. The Panthers' lone run over the first five innings came via a wild pitch that scored Nick Hawk in the second.

Celina countered Parkway's run with two of its own in the bottom of the second. Gabe Perry and Nash Weimert greeted Panther pitcher Jack Wehe with back-to-back singles to start the inning. After an out, Alex Borger and Dylan Feister hit back-to-back RBI singles to put Celina in front 2-1.

Piper helped his cause with an RBI single in the third before the Bulldogs plated three runs in the fourth. Grant Wagner and Bransen Miller each had RBI singles and Wagner scored on a passed ball.

"They sprayed the ball everywhere," Parkway coach Eddie Burtch said. "Jack threw well, couldn't ask for more. He threw strikes and (Celina) hit the ball very well."

Nick Hawk came on to retire Celina 1-2-3 in the fifth but gave up three runs in the sixth as Celina got a one-out double from Caden Highley, Wagner was hit by a pitch and Miller walked to load the bases. Perry hit a bloop single to score a run, and then Weimert walked to score another run. Mason Baxter came in to relieve Hawk and allowed another run a fielder's choice before getting the final out.

Parkway finally broke out of its slump with two runs in the sixth on an RBI single from Stukey and an RBI groundout from Baxter.

In the top of the seventh, Piper got the first out before allowing a single to Corey Walls, followed by Wehe reaching on an error. Stukey hit his third hit of the game, doubling home Walls and sending Wehe to third. Lubeke brought on Austin Cotterman to try and end the game. Nick Riley flew out to center for the second out, allowing Wehe to score and Stukey to reach third. Hawk drew a walk as Stukey scored on a wild pitch. Cotterman worked the count to 3-2 on Jason Luth before getting Luth to swing at strike three to end the game.

"We fought and came back," Burtch said. "Can't complain too much about that."

"Ethan pitched a pretty good ballgame," Luebke said. "He threw, made them hit it and had some good defense. Austin came in and shut the door."

Highly, Wagner, Perry and Feister each had two hits for Celina (2-1). Stukey finished 3-for-3 for Parkway (3-1).

Both teams are back in action on Wednesday. Celina travels to Marion Local with the Junior ACME playing at 5 p.m. and the ACME to follow around 7 p.m. Parkway hosts Coldwater with the Junior ACME at 6 p.m.and ACME around 8 p.m.