SIDNEY – One play helped to decide the outcome of a Wednesday evening American Legion Baseball battle between Van Wert and Sidney’s White squad won 2-0 by the hosts.
Sidney leadoff hitter Carson Taylor (Sidney) drew a full count walk to open the fifth inning against Van Wert starter Hunter Kauser (Paulding). Looking to sacrifice himself to put a runner in scoring position, Sidney pitcher Ryan Caulfield (Sidney) bunted a ball back to the mound and hustled down to first where he watched as a bobbled ball sailed over his head and into the right field bullpen.
Taylor and Caulfield advanced around the bases with Taylor coming in to score on a throw from the outfield which bounced away from Van Wert catcher Cooper Talowsky (Wapak) and also allowed Caulfield to cross for the only runs of the contest.
Van Wert led off the contest with a triple from centerfielder Tyler Dehan (St. Henry) on a 2-0 pitch and was joined on the bases by teammate TJ Stoller (Van Wert) who was hit by a pitch. Although Stoller quickly swiped second base the pair would find themselves left on the bases when the inning and threat expired on a fly out to left field.
Just like their first at bat, the Van Wert offense threatened again in their second but were unable to push across a marker in the inning thanks to a 9-4-2 put out of Ethan Rupert (Van Wert) at home plate as he attempted to score on a double by Carson Fox (Lincolnview).
Sidney themselves notched just a pair of baserunners in the first two innings on a single by Johnny Nixon (Minster) and a hit by pitch of Alex Keller (Sidney Lehman).
With a pair on and two out Van Wert was robbed of the games first run and possibly two as outfielder Jordan Lessing (Sidney) make a spectacular diving catch in left to keep the game knotted at zero.
Kauser allowed a pair of runners to reach in the third on a single by Ryan Schloss (Sidney) and a hit by pitch of Adam Ketner (Minster) but himself utilized a lineout and a strikeout to work out of trouble in the frame.
Cooper Talowsky and Tyler Dehan reached on a double and a single respectively in the sixth and seventh but ended being additions to the runners left on base count for Van Wert that totaled nine at the end of the evening.
Zach Schulte (Fort Jennings) took over for Kauser in the sixth inning for Van Wert and worked out of trouble in his inning of work after allowing a pair of baserunners on a single and a walk when Ryan Schloss popped out to first.
Ryan Caulfield who will ply his trade at Mt. St. Joes at the collegiate level earned the win for Sidney as he tossed 97 pitches in seven innings of work while allowing just five hits while striking out five and walking three with one hit by pitch.
Hunter Kauser was tagged with the loss for Van Wert (6-3) as he hurled five innings and surrendered both of the games runs on four hits while striking out four and walking and hitting a pair of batters each.
Next up for Van Wert is a Thursday night home contest against Piqua before a trip back to Sidney’s Custenborder Field on Monday evening.