Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

DEFIANCE - Two perennial Division II NW Ohio powers battled on Saturday as No. 1 Defiance and No. 14 Bryan tuned up for the OHSAA tournament.

The two non-conference rivals did not throw their aces which provided some fireworks, while playing some sloppy ball (eight total errors, four each) as Defiance topped Bryan 8-6.

Bryan (16-6) got on top in the first as lead-off hitter Colin Bacon reached via a walk and moved up on sophomore Derek Knisely's sacrifice bunt. A single from junior three-hole hitter Jordan Bostater put runners on the corners and an error allowed Bacon to score from third to put the Golden Bears up 1-0.

Defiance (22-1) came back scoring at least one run in each of the first five innings of the game.With two outs in the first, University of Kentucky recruit Robert Zeigler roped a single. Zeigler swiped second and scored on a single by Defiance College recruit Austin Yant to knot the score at 1-1.

In the second, Defiance exploded for four runs. Junior Adam Schaffer started the frame off with a walk before swiping second on the first pitch. After a ground out, talented junior Derek Turner walked. After another ground out, senior Alek Smith ripped an RBI single plating Schaffer. Top Prospect Games participant Austin Hancock followed with an RBI single before stealing second. Junior Dom Gentile then hit a routine fly ball to left that was misplayed allowing Defiance to score two more to go up 5-1.

Zeigler (celebration below) put the Dogs' up 6-1 in the third with a long fly, and I mean long fly, that hit the top of the trees behind the fence in left.
Bryan, down by five, closed the gap in the fourth scoring four to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 6-5. With one out, senior David Miller singled to left and sophomore Nate Rau walked to put two on. After a ground out, junior Austin Martin ripped a two-run single to center. Dexter Ridgeway followed with a single, with both runners then moving up via a wild pitch. Bacon hit a sacrifice fly and Knisely had an RBI single to left bringing an end for Defiance unsigned senior hurler Ethan Willitzer.

Defiance added two insurance runs, one in the fourth and one in the fifth. Unsigned senior catcher Joe Keween (picture below) reached on an error and later stole second before scoring on another error by Bryan.

In the fifth, Yant (picture below) hit a home run just over the fence in left to put Defiance up 8-5.

Defiance's relief pitcher Mazen Kanouh (pictured
left) threw the final 3 1/3 innings allowing just one unearned run on one hit. The sixth inning was particularly unusual when the righty put the Golden Bears down in order 1-2-3 on three pitches.

Bryan's final run came in the seventh as Owens Community College recruit Blake Kuszmaul reached on an error (pictured below) and later scored on the second error of the inning by Defiance. Kanouh finally put the Golden Bears away inducing a fly ball to center that Jacob Green hauled down for the final out of the game.