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Coldwater's Braylen Harlamert (4) slides safely into third base as Celina's Brady Steinbrunner is unable to corral the baseball during Monday's game at Veterans Field.
COLDWATER - Entering Monday's rivalry game at Coldwater, the Celina baseball team had allowed just 12 runs over the first nine games of the season, including four shutouts, a no-hitter and a perfect game.
The hot-hitting Cavaliers made sure the numbers changed, scoring at least one run in their six innings at-bat en route to posting a 13-7 victory at Veterans Field to stay perfect on the season.
The Cavaliers had 16 hits on the night, including four triples, to move to 8-0 on the season.
"We have a team that feels we have good speed and able to swing the sticks a little bit," said Coldwater coach Cory Klenke.
Celina coach John Dorner could only tip his cap to Coldwater.
"They're a good hitting team, probably the best hitting team in the area," said Dorner. "They have a lot of guys in the lineup that can hit it far. Have to respect that."
The Bulldogs (6-4) were able to put some hits together against Coldwater starter Owen Kunk in the early going, scoring a run in the top of the first inning, then plating three in the third on an RBI double by Brodee Schulte-Arnold and having two runners come home when Brady Steinbrunner reached on an error.
Coldwater countered with a run in the first, and three in the second as Baylen Blockberger brought two runs home with a single. After Celina tied the game at 4-all in the top of the third, Cole Etlzer dropped a perfect bunt single to score Cody Depweg for the go-ahead run off Luke Maxwell.
The Cavaliers added two runs in the fourth as AJ Harlamert and Mason Welsch hit back-to-back triples and Blockberger lofted a deep fly to right to score Welsch.
The big Cavalier inning came in the fifth as nine batters came to the plate and brought home five runs. With Cavaliers on all the bases, Welsch tripled again and then came home on Blockberger's single. An error brought home two more runs to make it 12-4.
Owen Kunk pitched five solid innings in Coldwater's 13-7 win over Celina at Veterans Field.
That was more than enough for Owen Kunk, who pitched a scoreless fourth and fifth to finish his mound work with five hits, one earned run and two walks.
"That was really Owen's first start of the season," said Klenke. "He did a tremendous job. We want to push him a little bit, but not too much because we want to get other guys work with a full week ahead."
Troy Weigel came on in the top of the sixth and allowed a walk to Zach Greber before striking out the next three batters.
Coldwater added a run in the sixth, but was unable to plate one more to trigger the run-rule. That proved big as Celina strung together a couple of base hits, a walk, two Coldwater wild pitches and a Cavalier error to plate three runs in the seventh, and the Bulldogs had the bases loaded with two outs.
Klenke called on Miles Pottkotter, who struck out Reese Pottkotter to end the game.
"I like that we didn't quit," said Dorner. "We got out of an inning where we could have been run-ruled. Came back up and put some runs across the plate. I'm pleased with the effort. We just have to get better."
Welsch finished his night going 3-for-5 with five RBI. Braylen Harlamert went 3-for-4 and Blockberger hit 3-for-3 with four RBI.
Nick Steinbrunner was 3-for-4 for Celina with three runs scored. Schulte-Arnold added two hits.
Both teams have road trips for league games today. Coldwater heads to Fort Recovery while Celina heads to Allen County to take on Shawnee.
Celina's Max Baumstark (left) applies the tag to Coldwater's Braxton Taylor during Monday's game at Veterans Field.
