By Dylan Hefflinger
Managing Editor/NW Scout 

COLUMBUS, OH – The Coldwater Cavaliers found a way to win their semifinal match-up against back-to-back state champ Wheelersburg as seen here. In the state final the Cavs used a big first inning en route to a 4-2 victory over No. 1 CHCA despite being outhit 10-5.

In the first inning, junior lead-off speedster Brody Hoying reached first via a throwing error. After a sacrifice bunt, sophomore three-hole DH Malave Bettinger walked. A strikeout followed giving the Cavs two outs with their starting pitcher Grant Muhlenkamp coming to the plate.

The senior had the biggest hit of his life as the left-handed hitter roped a two-run triple to score Hoying and Bettinger. Sophomore shortstop Adam Klosterman singled past short and third for the third run of the inning to give Coldwater a big 3-0 lead after just a half inning of play. 

The score remained 3-0 until the third when both teams scored a run.

For Coldwater, Bettinger roped a one-out single to right. Pinch runner Kraig Schoenherr advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a balk. Senior Mitch Heyne drove Schoenherr home on a sacrifice fly to go up 4-0.

CHCA answered with one.

Junior Daniel Vezdos singled to start out the inning, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. David Jun gcame in to pinch run and junior Cameron Murray was hit by a pitch to put two on. Another sacrifice bunt put two in scoring position, bringing to the plate Georgia Tech verbal commit Chase Murray (sophomore, pictured right).

Murray roped a single to score Jung, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

CHCA scored its last run in the fifth. Cameron Murray and Chase Murray each doubled and Cameron Murray scored.

But clutch hitting did not happen for CHCA, which left eight runners on base. 

Coldwater's ace Derek Thobe came in for the final two innings, only allowing three hits and no runs to pick up the save.

Top Performers:

• Grant Muhlenkamp (pictured right), picked up the win on the mound as the righty held CHCA to just two runs. At the plate, the LHH roped a huge two-run triple.
• Derek Thobe, picked up the save as the junior went the final two innings giving up just three hits.
• Adam Klosterman, had a single and RBI at the plate. In the field, the shortstop had six assists including two big double plays.
• Chase Murray, the talented sophomore went 3-for-3 with two singles, a double and 2 RBIs.
• Blake Swanger, was the tough luck loser on the mound. The Denison commit went 7 innings, allowing 4 runs (1 ER) on five hits and two walks while striking out nine.

Linescore

Coldwater    301  000  0  -  4  5  1

CHCA           001  010  0  -  2  10  3

Records: Coldwater 29-4, CHCA 29-3.

Winning pitcher: Grant Muhlenkamp 5-0 (5 inning, 2 runs, 7 hits, 1 strikeout, 1 walk). Save: Derek Thobe (2 innings, 0 runs, 3 hits, 0 strikeouts, 0 walks).

Losing pitcher: Blake Swanger 7-1 (7 innings, 4 runs, 1 ER, 5 hits, 9 strikeouts, 2 walks).

Leading hitters: (Coldwater, 5 hits) – Brody Hoying single; Malave Bettinger single, 2 walks; Mitch Heyne single; Grant Muhlenkamp triple, 2 RBIs; Adam Klosterman single. (CHCA, 10 hits) – Cameron Murray double; Chase Murray 2 singles, double, 2 RBIs; Ricky Silvestri single; Graham Lally 2 singles; Nick Harker single; Daniel Vazdos single; Jon Edelmann single.