Maag pitches Titans past Wildcats

KALIDA – Ottawa Glandorf utilized a complete game performance from pitcher Nate Maag to down rival Kalida 2-1 on Tuesday night at Holy Name Ballpark.

Maag, a junior hurler for the Titans surrendered a pair of runners to the Wildcats in the bottom of the first inning but quickly worked himself out of trouble as he forced a ground out and a strike out in quick fashion to leave the hosts without a run.

Justin Siebeneck opened the second at bat for Kalida by being walked by Maag and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by teammate Ayden Warnecke. Behind 1-2 in the count, Kalida outfielder Grant Vorst slapped a pitch into the outfield to bring home Siebeneck and give his squad a 1-0 lead into the third frame.

Though they had threatened in their first three turns at bat and came up empty, Ottawa Glandorf finally pushed across a run to tie the contest in the fourth at 1-1 on a Jaxon Buddelmeyer single that brought Dylan Wagner around the bases.

While Maag was beginning to settle in on the mound and quiet the Wildcat bats, the Titan offense would provide him all of the run support he would need the rest of the way in the top of the fifth.

Catcher Carter Schimmoeller led off the at bat by ripping a pitch from starter Colin Hoffman up the middle for a single and was joined on the bases by Ty Buckland in a move that led to Kalida bringing in reliever Ryan Klausing to attempt to work his squad out of trouble.

Jacob Balbaugh loaded the bases for the guests on a single to end an eight pitch at bat before Schimmoeller was brought in for the go ahead run on a fielders choice by Wes Davidson for a 2-1 lead.

Over his last three innings of work Maag allowed just a single to Brandon Miller and a hit by pitch of EJ Miller on his way to locking down the victory for the Titans.

Ottawa Glandorf snaps a two game losing streak and sees their regular season come to an end with a 15-11 record. Friday night will see the Titans travel to Smiley Park  as they begin their postseason run against WBL rival Van Wert.

Kalida (16-8) has dropped back to back games at home and will open their tournament season on Thursday at 5:00 P.M. inside Holy Name Ballpark when they welcome PCL foe Fort Jennings to town for a sectional finals tilt.