Pitchers duel in Akron

AKRON - The top two teams in Division V according to the coaches faced off for a berth in the state championship game.

It appeared that Coldwater would need just one run to win, but Apple Creek Waynedale found a way to get two for themselves.

Cameron Miller's two-out single in the bottom of the fifth brought home the tying and go-ahead runs, and Shane Coblentz made it stand up as the Golden Bears defeated the Cavaliers 2-1 at Canal Park in Akron on Friday afternoon.

Waynedale (29-3), will look to win its third state title in five seasons - having won in 2022 and 2023 - when it takes on the winner of Lynchburg-Clay and Graham. Graham was ahead 2-0 after two innings before a lengthy rain delay prompted the game to be suspended. The game will resume today at 4 p.m. with the championship game now being played Sunday at 7 p.m.

Coldwater, back in the state semifinals for the first time since 2019, ends its great season at 29-3.

"As a coaching staff. We don't have any regrets, and neither should the kids," said Coldwater coach Cory Klenke.

Coblentz and Coldwater starter Owen Kunk each allowed a hit in the first but left the runner on second base. In the second inning, Coldwater scored without benefit of a hit. Mason Smith led off by drawing a walk off Coblentz. Cody Depweg followed with a solid bunt to move Smith to second. After Smith stole third, Brady Lefeld grounded deep to short, giving Smith enough time to trot home for the first run of the game.

After giving up the run, Coblentz went on a tear, striking out eight straight batters before Brady Lefeld broke up the run with a one-out walk in the top of the fifth. After Lefeld stole second, Coblentz enticed Bennett Spriggs to foul pop to first, the first non-strikeout out since the third, before picking off Lefeld as he tried to steal third.

"Coblentz is a good pitcher," said Klenke. "I feel like our hitters are better than striking out eight in a row. We battled in there. Just not good-enough at-bats."

Kunk, needing just 40 pitches to get through the first three innings, was rolling right along as well, relying on some great defense. Mason Welsch dashed from his spot at second base to snag a foul ball in the third. In the fourth, Miles Pottkotter stretched up to snag a bouncer and fired a BB to Baylen Blockberger for the first out before Kunk struck out the next two batters to send the game into the fifth.

"I felt like we played good enough defense to win," said Klenke. "I felt like we had good enough pitching to win. Owen did a great job on the mound."

The beat went on in the bottom of the fifth. Spriggs snagged a foul pop from behind the plate for the first out. Karsyn Homan made a diving stab at Logan Troyer's line shot to short for the second out. But Hudson Barkman snapped a streak of six straight outs with a single up the middle. Coblentz followed with a single to right as Barkman slid into third base as Coblentz went to second on the throw. Klenke wasted no time in calling on Smith from the bullpen. Kunk walked one, allowed four hits and struck out three in a 71-pitch performance. Tristan Franks worked the count full before taking a pitch outside for ball four to load the bases for Cameron Miller. Smith got two strikes on him before Cameron Miller singled up the middle to score Barkman and Coblentz to put the Golden Bears in front 2-1. Jordan Miller ended the inning with a ground out to third.

Coblentz needed just eight pitches to retire the side in the top of the sixth. Smith quickly recorded the first two outs in the bottom of the sixth before walking Josh Yoder. Troyer then grounded out to end the inning.

The Cavaliers had the middle of the batting order up in the top of the seventh. Coblentz, starting the inning with 90 pitches enticed Welsch to ground out to Jordan Miller at short for the first out. Blockberger stepped in and singled up the middle to bring up Smith, who worked the count full before lofting a deep fly to right that Barkman needed to move a couple steps to get under for the second out. Depweg then grounded to Jordan Miller, who flipped the ball to Collin McGlothlin at second for the game-ending forceout.  

"It's hard to win when you only got two hits in the game," said Klenke.

Klenke remains proud of what his team accomplished this season.

"They shouldn't have any regrets. (Nothing) to hang their heads about," said Klenke. "They did everything we've asked of them all season long. Not just on the field, but also in the classroom. We had the valedictorian on the team in Aaron Kaup. This was a real good senior class in life in general and not just on the field. A tough group to lose to graduation."