By Matthew Lee
Regional Correspondent

BLUFFTON, OH - In a DII Northwest district semi-final game, top seeds Wapakoneta (16-5) and Bellevue (20-5) found themselves in a rematch of last year’s district final matchup.

Bellevue struck in the top of the first against senior LHP Johnny Crawford (Bowling Green recruit). After a lead off walk to senior Nick Raifsnider, who quickly took second on a wild pitch, sophomore Dylan Dewitt hit a fly ball to right that allowed Raifsnider to tag up and advance to third.

However, on the relay to third base, senior shortstop Josh Apple threw the ball over the fence, allowing Raifsnider to score with the game’s first run.

Bellevue then loaded the bases as senior Trent Stamm singled, sophomore Clay Fries walked and senior Matt Dudek reached via an error. But, Crawford regrouped and escaped the jam by striking out sophomore Triston Snezek to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third inning, Wapakoneta finally got to senior Alex Manner who was the Northwest district player of the year.

A leadoff walk to senior A.J. Etzkorn started the inning. After a bunt attempt that was popped up for the first out and a fly ball to right for the second out, Apple laid down a perfectly placed bunt for a single. Crawford delivered a rope to the gap in right that scored two runs to make it 2 to 1 in favor of Wapakoneta.

Senior Andrew Hines followed that with a run scoring single. Then, junior Chandler Kaeck reached on an error and senior Brandon Schreiber walked to load the bases. Manner then issued a bases loaded walk to senior Marshall Gerlach forcing in a run to make it 4-1. That was the end of the day on the mound for Manner as Bellevue called on senior lefty Ethan Hartley in relief. He induced a fly out to right off the bat of AJ Etzkorn to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth, Bellevue stormed back scoring three runs to tie the game 4 to 4. Junior Tyler Rospert led off with a walk followed by back-to-back triples off the bats of senior Dalton Jarvis and Raifsnider. Dewitt hit into a fielder’s choice to knock in Raifsnider.

With the game tied and his pitch count mounting, Crawford concluded his day on the mound.

In the bottom of the fourth, Wapakoneta jumped back on top, scoring four more times. Senior Alex Koch reached on a one out error and Apple singled. Crawford reached on a fielder’s choice, forcing Apple at second base. Hines then doubled, driving in a run and Kaeck was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

With a chance to take the lead, Schreiber stroked a single that knocked in two runs and forced another call to the Bellevue bullpen as Dalton Jarvis came in relief to strike out Etzkorn and end the inning.

Junior Chace Culver relieved Crawford in the 5^th and gave up a one out double to Dudek but got out of the inning on back-to-back ground outs.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Wapakoneta added three more times off Jarvis. Koch smacked a one out double then Apple reached base after he struck out and the ball went to the back-stop. Crawford then hit a towering shot over the field in right for a three-run homerun.

In the bottom of the sixth, Schreiber walked, which ended Jarvis’ day on the mound. Senior Jake Smith came in relief and walked Etzkorn before giving up an RBI single to Culver. Koch was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Apple delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 13 to 4. Crawford then laced a two out single driving in his sixth run of the game and make it 14-4, ending the game.

Wapakoneta (17-5) will face the other No. 1 seed Lexington (22-4) at Bluffton University at 2:00 on Saturday.

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