By Dylan Hefflinger

HAMLER- Bryan, ranked No. 7 in the latest poll, used a dominant performance by starting pitcher Blake Kuszmaul to defeat No. 17 ranked Wauseon (16-5) for the third time this season, 4-1 for a Division II sectional championship.

The 5-9 Kuszmaul went the distance to hold a powerful Wauseon offense that averaged eight runs on the season to just one run on three hits. The Bryan junior, who was the winning pitcher in handing top-ranked Defiance its only loss of the season, walked just one, while striking out a season-high 13. Kuszmaul was consistently in the 79-82 mph range and topped out at 84 a few times. Kuszmaul also featured a sharp breaking slow curve in the 66-70 mph range.

Kuszmaul had a rough start in the 1st, however, with Wauseon junior catcher Jake Trejo leading off the game with a double. After a groundout, Kuszmaul plunked talented sophomore 3-hole hitter Ty Suntken to put runners on first and second. Junior Josh Cales roped a single but Trejo was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second. A dropped third strike to the next batter scored the first run of the game as Suntken scampered home on the wild pitch to put Wauseon up 1-0.

Bryan matched the Indians in the bottom half of the frame. Collin Bacon, an impressive junior, had a lead-off single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a groundout, senior Joe Borland delivered an RBI bloop single over the second basemen to scored Bacon to tie the game at 1-1.

The Golden Bears added another run in the 2nd as sophomore David Miller had a one-out double, later scoring on an RBI single from Heidelberg recruit Derek Hug to put Bryan up 2-1.

Bryan added two insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th off relief pitcher Trejo. Bacon led off the inning with a triple and, after a strikeout, Borland came through with another RBI bloop single to score Bacon. Borland added to the advantage by scoring on an RBI single from sophomore Joe Bostater to put the Golden Bears up 4-1.

Kuszmaul then shut the door in the 7th to earn the win for the NWOAL champions.

Bryan (18-3) advances to the districts at Archbold on May 17th at 7:00 p.m. against the winner of Friday's game between Sandusky Perkins and Rossford.