PBR Spotlight Game: Division II District Finals: No. 1 Defiance vs. No. 2 Sandusky Perkins

Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

ARCHBOLD - The top two teams in Division II (combined record of 53-2 coming into the contest) squared off for a District championship and No. 1 got the better of No. 2 Saturday, as Defiance topped Sandusky Perkins 6-1.

The top-ranked Bulldogs of Defiance got an unbelievable performance from their co-ace Weston Rivers (pictured, Lincoln Trail recruit). The "Hefty" lefty had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning, before giving up a lead-off bloop single to junior eight-hole hitter Devin Dubbert.  

Defiance head coach Tom Held on Weston's performance:

"He was today what he has been all season long," stated Held. "Weston took a no-hitter into the sixth against a great team... his knuckleball was on, he was able to locate it well, and because they're an aggressive hitting team, it played into his strength today with that pitch. Just an unbelievable performance from the senior."

Defiance (27-1) knows all about no-hitters as they were just no-hit by Ohio University recruit Jake Rudnicki on Friday, but was able to defeat Toledo Central Catholic in the District semifinals as you can see here.

It seems as though the Bulldogs saved all their hits for this one as they slugged out 10 hits and put up a crooked number in the second inning, while adding insurance runs in the fourth and fifth.

In the second inning after Perkins' (27-2) starter Thane Walton recorded two outs, Defiance tagged the talented junior for four runs.

Unsigned senior Dom Romero singled before Rivers drew a walk on a full-count pitch to put two on. Unsigned senior Joe Keween, who drove home the first run of the game against Perkins in last year's 5-2 victory, singled to right to plate Romero and Rivers moved to third.

With runners on the corners, Top Prospect Games participant Derek Turner laced a single to right scoring Rivers to put Defiance up 2-0. Fellow TP Games participant Austin Hancock singled up the middle to score Keween bringing an end to Walton's day on the mound. Gifted sophomore lefty Braun Miller (pictured) came on and got TP Games participant Dom Gentile to hit a routine pop fly to center, but the ball was misplayed, falling in for an RBI single that scored Turner to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.

Perkins' mentor Ray Neill knew his team could not allow Defiance to get a four-run lead early with the pitching the Bulldogs have shown all season.

"Two outs, nobody on, we walked a guy there... we just couldn't get that third out," Neill said. "With the pitching they have, when you give up a crooked number like that you really put yourself behind the 8-ball."

Defiance added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth inning.

In the fifth, Hancock (pictured) ripped a one-out triple to right-center and scored on a single up the middle by Gentile. In the sixth, Defiance College recruit Austin Yant hit a single before being pinch-ran for by senior Wade Verhoff. Verhoff scored on a single by Romero to put Defiance up 6-0.

Perkins got their lone run in the sixth. After Dubbert broke up the no-hit bid, Defiance misplayed a double play chance putting two on with no outs. Rivers barred down and induced three groundouts with a hit batsman mixed in. 

After the Bulldogs had numerous web gems in the semifinals match against TCC, the defense was at it again. Hancock made an unbelievable backhanded play in the second, but the play of the game came from the "vacuum" at third, Gentile. The junior made a diving stop that went right over third base, quickly got to his feet and threw a seed across the diamond to get junior Luke Fraley by a step. The play was SportsCenter top 10 worthy.

Gentile was humble when asked about the play.

"Sometimes even a blind squirrel finds a nut," said Gentile, who also finished with two singles and two RBIs.

The Bulldogs earned their 16th district title in school history (10th in the last 15 years) and advanced to the regional semifinals Thursday at Tiffin to face Parma Heights Holy Name at 5 p.m. The first game of the regional in Tiffin pits No. 5 Wapakoneta and No. 13 Granville, which play at 2 p.m.

Perkins bows out of the tournament, falling to Defiance for the second straight season. The Pirates should keep their heads high as they had an outstanding season, tying the school record for wins with 27

"The total body of work is outstanding," stated Neill on his team's season. "It's disappointing when you know you are done for the year, especially when you've got eight seniors that you have been in the dugout with for four years. Time to work this summer to get ready for next season. Congrats to Defiance."