PBR Spotlight Game: No. 18 Bryan (D-II) at No. 11 Patrick Henry (D-IV)

HAMLER, OH - Two ranked teams from the oldest conference in Ohio, the Northwest Ohio Athletic Conference (established 1927), faced off as No. 18 Bryan (D-II) traveled to No. 11 Patrick Henry (D-IV). The Patriots used a big innings and solid pitching to defeat the Golden Bears 3-1.

With the score deadlocked 0-0 in the 5th inning, Patrick Henry scored three runs in a variety of ways. The Patriots' Jake Montana started the inning off with a single to right field. Brad Breece placed a perfect bunt down for a single, to put two on. Unsigned senior Derek Hoops advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt, bringing to the plate Patrick Henry starting pitcher Kollin Spence.

Spence hit a ground ball to third, the ensuing throw to the plate was beat out by Montana, putting the Patriots on the board.

Bryan starter Bailey Martin struck out the next batter, but the pitch was in the dirt and Bryan's junior catcher Derek Knisely was unable to make the play, bringing to the play Logan Ziegler with the bases loaded. Ziegler hit another ground ball to third, scoring Breece after a high throw home. A wild pitch by Martin allowed Patrick Henry to plate their third and final run of the inning as Joe Nickels gets in just ahead of Martin (pictured below).
 

The Golden Bears threatened in the 6th, but was only able to score one. A one out single by junior shortstop Nate Rau (his third single in the game) followed by on error put two on.

Senior Austin Martin laced an RBI single up the middle, plating Rau. After a walk to junior Kyle Rupp loaded the bases, Spence induced a 6-3 double play to get out of the jam.

Patrick Henry will hope to win its remaining games in the league and hope someone knocks off Wauseon to give PH a share of the NWOAL title.

Bryan now has two losses in the NWOAL, but looks to shake things up in the conference on Monday when the face No. 16 Wauseon (D-II), who is unbeaten in the NWOAL.

Notable performances in the game:

• Kollin Spence, the senior went the distance on the mound, allowing one run on eight hits and one walk while striking out six. The righty primarily used a low-to-mid 70s fastball with a high 50s curve to keep Bryan out front all game.
• Bailey Martin (pictured right), the junior went five-plus innings allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five.
• Nate Rau, the junior shortstop had three singles and pitched the final fram for Bryan, striking out two.
• Jake Montana, had two singles and two runs scored for Patrick Henry.
• Austin Martin, had two singles and an RBI for Bryan.

Linescore

Bryan             000 001 0 - 1 8 1

Patrick Henry 000 030 x - 3 5 2

Records: Patrick Henry 13-6 (6-1 NWOAL), Bryan 11-5 (5-2 NWOAL).

Winning pitcher: Kollin Spence (7 innings, 1 run, 8 hits, 6 strikeouts, 1 walk).

Losing pitcher: Bailey Martin (5+ innings, 3 runs, 5 hits, 5 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Nate Rau.

Leading hitters: (Bryan) - Nate Rau 3 singles; Austin Martin 2 singles. (Patrick Henry) - Jake Montana 2 singles.

To view scouting notes about games across Ohio, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.

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