Minster headed to state

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By Jim Naveau

Civitas Media

HAMLER – At the beginning of Minster’s 3-1 win over Leipsic in the Division 4 baseball regional championship game at Hamler Patrick Henry on Saturday, baseballs were flying all over the park.

But only Minster was scoring runs. And that made all the difference when the Wildcats advanced to the state tournament, where it will play top-ranked Toronto at 10 a.m. Friday at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus.

Minster (23-7) scored three times in the bottom of the first inning and those were all the runs it needed.

On the other hand, Leipsic (23-6) got hits from two of its first three hitters in the top of the first, but left them stranded when Minster starting pitcher Jack Heitbrink set down the next two batters on a ground out and a pop up.

It was a situation that returned to haunt the Vikings throughout the game. They put two runners on with two out in the fourth inning, had the bases loaded with two out in the fifth inning and got the first two hitters on base in the sixth inning but did not score.

Leipsic’s only run came in the seventh inning when Cole Rieman walked, moved up on two ground outs and scored on Grant Rader’s infield single.

“We had plenty of chances. We were just one hit away in two or three innings. If we could have gotten a run here or a run there, that last inning gets a lot tougher,” Leipsic coach Darren Henry said.

Minster’s game-defining first inning started when leadoff hitter Isaac Schmiesing was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count. Jon Niemeyer followed with a single and the next batter, Alex Lehmkuhl, doubled to score Schmiesing. No. 4 hitter Ben Stubbs then doubled to score Niemeyer and Lehmkuhl.

Lehmkuhl and Stubbs combined for seven RBIs in Minster’s two regional victories. Lehmkuhl also had a first-inning triple in a 6-1 semifinal win over New London.

“It’s nice to start off the game with big shots. It brings the team big time confidence. It was a big time edge,” Lehmkuhl said about Saturday’s first inning.

Starter Jack Heitbrink pitched the first five innings for Minster and gave up no runs and three hits. He struck out four and walked three before Isaac Dorsten took over at the start of the sixth inning.

After the first inning, Leipsic pitcher Dylan Schroeder limited Minster to one hit in the next five innings. He struck out seven and walked two. He retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.

Leipsic’s best chances after the first inning to put pressure on Minster probably were in the fifth and sixth innings.

In the fifth, Nick Schey led off with a single, Rieman drew a one-out walk and Schroeder reached on an error with two out. But Heitbrink got Rader to hit into a force play at third base.

In the sixth, Robbie Laubenthal greeted Dorsten with a single and Jordan Berger reached base on an error to put runners at first and third. The next batter, Devin Hiegel, lined a shot off Dorsten, who recovered in time to throw to home, where Stubbs tagged out pinch-runner Wes Garcia.

Dorsten got the next two batters out on a fly ball and a strikeout to end the inning.

Henry disagreed with the call at the plate. “He was safe. He made it in there. I don’t know what that guy was looking at,” he said.

Minster finished in a three-way tie for second in the Midwest Athletic Conference. But going to state without winning the MAC is nothing new for the Wildcats.

None of the four teams longtime head coach Mike Wiss has coached at the state tournament, including state champion teams in 2011 and 2012, have won the MAC.

He also pointed to another fact to illustrate the level of competition in small school baseball in western Ohio.

“The winner of the Coldwater district has gone to Columbus the last seven years — in 2011 and 2012 by us, 2013 and 2014 by Crestview, 2015 and 2016 by Fort Recovery and now back to Minster,” he said. “That speaks volumes about our schedule.”

The linescore:

`R`H`E

Leipsic `000`000`1`—`1`5`0

Minster `300`000`0`—`3`4`2

WP: Jack Heitbrink; LP: Dylan Schroeder

Records: Minster 23-7; Leipsic 23-6

Minster catcher Ben Stubbs prepares to apply the tag on Leipsic’s Wes Garcia, who was looking to score on an infield hit. Garcia was called out.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/05/web1_SC1V1525.jpgMinster catcher Ben Stubbs prepares to apply the tag on Leipsic’s Wes Garcia, who was looking to score on an infield hit. Garcia was called out. Jose Nogueras | Civitas Media

Minster pitcher Jack Heitbrink delivers a pitch in the Division 4 Regional championship game Saturday afternoon. Minster won to earn another trip to the state tournament.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/05/web1_SC1V1242.jpgMinster pitcher Jack Heitbrink delivers a pitch in the Division 4 Regional championship game Saturday afternoon. Minster won to earn another trip to the state tournament. Jose Nogueras | Civitas Media
Wildcats face top-ranked Toronto Friday in state semifinals

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