Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

BLUFFTON - After being the preseason top-ranked team in the state in Division II, Wapakoneta dropped four its its first seven games of the season despite returning eight starters from last year's D-II state runners-up.

But when it counts most, it appears the Redskins are hitting their stride at the right time.

The Redskins, ranked No. 5, defeated No. 10-ranked Lexington in nine innings thanks to a walk-off bases-loaded walk to Marshall Gerlach which gave Wapak a 3-2 district finals victory. 

Stranding two runners in both the seventh and eighth innings, Wapak stayed alive with Johnny Crawford shutting down the Minutemen bats over the final three innings.Then the Redskins got the job done in the ninth.

Crawford doubled to deep right field with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and Lexington issued an intentional walk to Andrew Hines. Chandler Kaeck then hit into a fielder’s choice as Crawford moved to third base. The Minutemen issued another intentional walk to Brandon Schrieber to load the bases with two outs before Gerlach drew the full-count walk-off free pass from relief pitcher Evan Lee to advance the Redskins to regionals.

The Redskins again got excellent pitching from Top Prospect Games participant Chace Culver and Bowling Green State University recruit Johnny Crawford. Culver started on the mound and went 5 2/3 innings before leaving with the game tied at 2-2. Crawford came on and tossed 3 1/3 innings of shutout no-hit ball to earn the victory and improve to 7-2 on the season.

Wapak got on top in the first scoring one, but was in line for more before Lexington starting pitcher Zach Temple was able to hold them at bay. The Redskins loaded the bases with no outs in the first but were held to just the one run as Temple mixed in his off-speed to retire the Redskins.

The Minutemen (22-5) answered the Redskins' run to tie the game at one. Right fielder Lee walked to begin the second inning and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt. First baseman James Watkins then drove Lee home with a single to tie the game.

The Redskins got back on top in the fourth inning when Schreiber, the Wapak catcher, and Gerlach recorded back-to-back singles. Schreiber came around to score on an error by the Lexington shortstop to put Wapak up 2-1.

The Minutemen were able to knot the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning. An error by Gerlach allowed Lexington to score an unearned run, before Culver exited the game and Crawford came in to pitch. Redskins' unsigned senior shortstop Josh Apple then did what he does best making an outstanding play behind second base to throw out a Lexington runner for the third out of the inning and hold the Minutemen to just the one run, stranding two Lexington runners.

With the victory, Wapakoneta advances to the Tiffin University Regional to face Granville at 2 p.m. Thursday in the semifinals. Game two will feature No. 1-ranked Defiance and Parma Heights Holy Name. Wapak, which lost to Defiance during the regular season this year, captured the Regional championship a year ago with a win over Defiance in the finals.