PBR Spotlight Game: Division III Sectional Final: Paulding at No. 6 Coldwater (D-III)

COLDWATER, OH - Coldwater's junior RHP Derek Thobe (pictured right) had something special going through five innings, but fell short on the no-hit bid. The Cavaliers however still advanced in the tournament with a 3-1 win over Paulding to claim a sectional title.

Up 2-0 heading to the sixth, Thobe had allowed just one hitter to reach base on an error for the No. 6 ranked Cavaliers.

In that sixth inning, Paulding's sophomore infielder Alex Arellano drew a one-out walk. Lead-off shortstop Kyle Kauser followed with a perfectly-placed bunt that Thobe made a great play on to nip Kauser at first by a step. With Arellano on second, sophomore Corbin Edwards roped an RBI single up the middle to break up Thobe's no-hit bid and shutout at the same time.

Quentin Vance followed Edwards with a single to put two on with two outs with Thobe's opposing hurler Treston Gonzales up to the plate. Gonzales ripped a hard grounder toward shortstop senior Adam Kolsterman, who threw to Drew Otten at second for the final out of the frame.

Thobe went the distance on the mound for Coldwater allowing just one run on two hits and one walk while striking out six.

Gonzales tried to match Thobe pitch-for-pitch, going the distance on the mound allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six.

Coldwater scored a run in the second, third and sixth off of Gonzales.

In the second, the Cavaliers senior left fielder Grant Muhlenkamp singled before later scoring on a safety squeeze by fellow senior Matt Kramer.

In the third, senior Drew Otten singled and advanced on a passed ball and a single before scoring on a passed ball.

In the sixth, Klosterman singled, moved up on a walk and passed ball and scored on a second squeeze bunt by Kramer.

"It's tournament time," replied Coldwater coach Brian Harlamert after taking a deep sigh of relief. "There wasn't a lot of offense out there, but our small ball worked today and we executed. We love to put pressure on the other team when we get guys on base and that paid off today."

Coldwater (23-3) advances to play the winner of No. 8 ranked Liberty-Benton and Parkway next Thursday at Ohio Northern University while Paulding bows out of the tournament with a 9-12 record.

Notable performances in the game:

• Derek Thobe, the junior went the distance on the mound for Coldwater allowing just one run on two hits and one walk while striking out six.
• Treston Gonzales (pictured right), the junior went the distance on the mound allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six.
• Drew Otten, the senior had two singles and scored a run.
• Adam Klosterman, the senior had a single and double, scored one run and played good defense.
• Matt Kramer, the senior executed two squeeze bunts, scoring two of the three Cavalier runs.
• Corbin Edwards, the left-handed hitting sophomore outfielder broke up the no-hit big and reached base twice on a single and error.

Linescore

Paulding   000 001 0 - 1 2 2

Coldwater  011 001 x - 3 6 1

Records: Coldwater 23-3, Paulding 9-12.

Winning pitcher: Derek Thobe (7 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, 0 HBP).

Losing pitcher: Treston Gonzales (6 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 6 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 HBP).

Leading hitters: (Coldwater) - Drew Otten 2 singles; Grant Muhlenkamp single; Adam Klosterman single, double.

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