By Chris Webb

Monday May 16 Recap
Across three different divisions, four ranked teams fall. Northwest stars shine.

Division I

In the southwest, two ranked teams met in a non-league game as #2 Vandalia-Butler blanked #10 Centerville 8-0. Vandalia-Butler (24-3) received a solo shutout from senior right-handed pitcher Trey Hafer who allowed just three hits in improving to 6-0. Vandalia-Butler will next be in action Thursday against GWOC rival Huber Heights Wayne in a Kettering I District semifinal. Centerville (18-6) faces New Carlisle Tecumseh on Thursday in a Kettering II District semifinal. Both games will be played at Xenia?s Athletes in Action complex. Centerville will play first at 4:30, followed by the Vandalia-Butler game at 7 p.m.

Central Ohio saw an upset in District semifinal action as Olentangy Orange and 2012 prospect Luke Wolford fell to Grove City 16-8. The Greyhounds put together 20 hits while playing on their home field in the victory over the district?s eight-seed. The upset was the third victory in the tournament within a week for Grove City, outscoring their opponents 31-8. Grove City advanced to play either state-ranked Pickerington North or Worthington Kilbourne at 5 p.m. on Thursday at Hilliard Davidson.

Division II

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary?s (15-5) advanced to District semifinal play in the Akron District in dramatic fashion in a 3-2 victory over Pepper Pike Orange. Trailing 2-0 and down to their last out, senior Sonny Howard hit a three-run walk-off home run to give ASVSM the victory and Sectional championship. ASVSM will now face Division II?s top team in Walsh Jesuit at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Summit Lake Park.

Two ranked-teams and four of the state?s top pitchers could be found toeing the rubber at Defiance High School as the field played host to Napoleon-Defiance and Wauseon-Bryan.

In the first game, the visitors ended a run of 12-straight sectional crowns for fifth-ranked Defiance, as Napoleon, behind Cincinnati-bound Art Warren, won 3-0 in a game that spanned four days due to postponements. Junior right-handed pitcher Anthony Kidston, who has verbally committed to Louisville, received the loss allowing three runs over the six innings off five hits while striking out six. Napoleon moves on to face Toledo Central Catholic in one Archbold District semifinal game to be played Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Archbold High School.

The nightcap received one of the finest results in the state this season as Bryan knocked off number 10 Wauseon 4-2. Ohio State recruit Matt Wisler struck out 14 over the seven inning affair allowing two runs off six hits. Austin Bueter, who is headed to Ohio Dominican, was almost as impressive as he struck out 12 while scattering five hits in a complete-game effort of his own. Bryan (19-7), advanced to play Maumee following the Napoleon-Toledo Central Catholic game.

Division III

Orrville continued the theme of ending state-ranked teams on Monday night as they knocked off DIII?s number eight team Massillon Tuslaw 5-0 in Sectional final play. On Friday Orrville took a 3-0 lead in the first inning behind rain halted the action. After unsuccessfully being able to play on Saturday, the game advanced to the top of the fourth on Sunday before again being halted. Over the course of pitching in three games, Orrville sophomore Trevor Kerr pitched the solo shutout over seven innings, allowing three hits, while striking out seven. The Red Riders (9-14) advance to play Wooster Triway 4 p.m. Thursday at Norwayne High School in Creston District semifinal action. Tuslaw ends the season at 20-7.