Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

DEFIANCE - Top Prospect Games participants Derek Turner (picture left) and Austin Hancock (picture right) combined to three-hit No. 10, Division III Archbold in a 10-0, five inning win for Defiance, the top-ranked team in Division II. 

At the plate, the Bulldogs struck for three runs in the first, before busting the game open in the fourth scoring five.

With one out in the first, back-to-back doubles by junior Dom Gentile and University of Kentucky recruit Robert Zeigler got Defiance's offense rolling. A walk to Defiance College recruit Austin Yant and two passed balls got the Bulldogs on top 3-0 after one inning of play.

After Defiance scored a run in the third, the Bulldogs added five runs in the fourth. Turner got it started with a bloop single to center before unsigned senior catcher Joe Keween laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Turner up. After a walk to Defiance College recruit Drake Jimenez, Hancock plated two with a single to left before Gentile walked.

Then it looked as though Zeigler hit a three-run bomb to left, but the home plate umpire called the ball foul, much to the dismay of Defiance head coach Tom Held and all of the Bulldog fans. Zeigler recomposed himself at the plate and ripped a two-run single up the middle to put Defiance up 9-0.

In the fifth, Defiance plated their 10th run of the game to put a cap on the contest. Pinch hitter Ethan Willitzer, an unsigned senior, drew a walk and advanced to third on a double by Jimenez before Willitzer scored the last run of the game on a wild pitch.

Defiance (24-1) returns to action on Friday against arch-rival Napoleon in the Division II sectional finals at 5 p.m. at Defiance, while Archbold (19-5) hosts Fairview today in D-III sectional finals action at Archbold beginning at 4:30 p.m.

To view scouting notes from this game, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.