By Dylan Hefflinger
Managing Editor/NW Scout 

COLUMBUS, OH – In a dream match-up of Coldwater (5 state championships/19 final four appearances) and Wheelersburg (back-to-back state champions/7 final four appearances), it looked as though it was Coldwater's game until Wheelersburg tied it in the 7th before the Cavaliers winning it in the 10th, 3-2.

With Coldwater up 2-0 in the top of the 7th, Wheelersburg was not about to see its chances at a three-peat.

Nick Marshall started the frame off with a single and Nathan Jones followed that up with an RBI double to score Marshall. Michael Green came in to run for Jones.

Green stole third to put the tying run 90 feet away.

After a groundout, Sam Robinson dribbled a grounder towards third that Matt Kramer's only play was at first, allowing Green to score and send the game to extras.

The score remained 2-2 until the 10th when Coldwater won in walk-off fashion.

A leadoff walk by Adam Klosterman. Sophomore Aaron Harlamert laid down a sac bunt that Wheelersburg tried to get the lead runner without success.

With two on and nobody out, Kramer looked to advance the runners up, but popped the bunt up.

With one out, Wheelersburg junior starter Wade Martin picked off Klosterman at second which was just the start.

Klosterman stayed in the run down for a while and after about 10 throws, Wheelersburg threw the ball away past second and past the right fielder who was sprinting in to get in the rundown.

The error allowed Klosterman to score all the way from second to give Coldwater a 3-2 victory and the celebration started (pictured below).
Coldwater got its first two runs in the 5th and 6th.

In the fifth, Grant Muhlenkamp (pictured left) led off with a triple and after an out, Harlamert (pictured right) executed a squeeze to score Muhlenkamp.
 

 

 

In the sixth, Brody Hoying had a one out single to right. Drew Otten sacrificed Hoying over to second. Hoying scored on an RBI single by sophomore Malave Bettinger to put Coldwater on top 2-0.

Top Performers: 

• Grant Muhlenkamp, picked up the win on the mound in relief going 4.1 innings allowing two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one. At the plate, went 2-for-4 with a single, triple and a run scored.
• Derek Thobe, the junior started for Coldwater and went 5.2 innings allowing no runs on just one hit and three walks while striking out five.
• Wade Martin (pictured right), the junior went 9.1 innings allowing just three runs (two ER) on seven hits and one walk while striking out six.

Linescore

Wheelersburg    000  000  200  0  -  2  3  3

Coldwater          000  011  000  1  -  3  7  0

Records: Coldwater 28-4, Wheelersburg 23-7

Winning pitcher: Grant Muhlenkamp (4.1 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 strikeout, 1 walk). Other: Derek Thobe (5.2 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 5 strikeouts, 3 walks).

Losing pitcher: Wade Martin (9.1 innings, 3 runs, 2 ER, 7 hits, 6 strikeouts, 1 walk).

Leading hitters: (Wheelersburg, 3 hits) –  Garrett Carmichael single; Nick Marshall single; Nathan Jones double. (Coldwater, 7 hits) – Brody Hoying single; Malave Bettinger single; Mitch Heyne single; Grant Muhlenkamp single, triple; Aaron Harlamert single; Matt Kramer single.