New heroes seem to step up for the Norwalk baseball team every time out.
On Tuesday afternoon against Willard in a Northern Ohio League game, it was junior Nick Davis coming through with a bunt single in the eighth inning to plate Michael Finch as the Truckers edged the Flashes, 4-3.
Davis got his bat on the ball, forcing relief pitcher Alex Storts to come off the mound and make a play at first. But, when the Willard first-baseman also broke for the ball, no one covered the bag at first base. Finch got a great jump from third, making the only play at first.
Down by a run going into the bottom of the eighth, it took a number of heroics off left-handed pitcher Kyle Fluharty, who had allowed just one hit over seven innings. Evan Bader lashed a opposite-field single to right to start the eighth. He stole second and took third on an infield out. Down to their last out, Finch lined a single to center to plate Bader and knot the game at 3-3.
Norwalk continued at trying to win it. A huge break toward that end came when Fluharty threw wild to first on a pick-off attempt. Finch raced all the way to third.
Fluharty then worked too careful to Trey Hallock and Nate Light, walking them both to load the bases. Enter Davis to face relief pitcher Storts and what was be the game-winning bunt two pitches later.
Norwalk (7-2, 3-0 NOL) goes to Upper Sandusky Thursday for a league contest.
Up until the eighth Tuesday afternoon, Norwalk had just one hit -- a two-out RBI single by Johnie Wilcox in the third.
In the top of the eighth with the game tied 2-2, Luevano walked as the leadoff batter. That signaled the end for Souter. On came Wilcox. He carefully worked his way out of the jam only to have Storts lift a one-out foul pop to the fence between home and Trucker dugout. But, when the pop was surrounded by three players, it left home plate un-guarded and Luevano saw the opening, racing home with the go-ahead run.
Shullick worked 5 2/3 innings. He allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Souter gave up two hits and a walk while fanning two. Wilcox, in getting the win, walked two, one intentionally, while striking out one.
Bellevue 2, Fostoria 1
At Fostoria, Adam Manner was solid once again in allowing one run on four hits in a complete-game effort.
Bellevue improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the NOL. Manner struck out four and walked one batter while adding a triple offensively. Jeff Roth added an RBI single for Bellevue, which hosts Columbian Thursday and travels to Shelby Friday.
Edison 5, Oak Harbor 2
At Oak Harbor, the Chargers dug out of a 2-0 hole with three runs in the top of the fourth inning against the Rockets.
Brandon Tomson led off with a walk, and Mike Kumpula reached base after being hit by a pitch. Tommy Gerbracht followed with a triple to right-centerfield. Brandon Gurnack hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Gerbracht.
The Chargers (6-2, 1-0 SBC) added insurance runs in the top of the sixth and seventh for the 5-2 victory.
Gebracht finished with 3 RBIs for Edison, while Trent Emody had two hits.
Sam Deehr (2-1) pitched the first five innings, giving up three hits and three walks for two runs, one earned. Ryan Reber closed with the two-inning save, allowing three hits and striking out three.
Mark Konieczny and Chad Grotz both had two hits for the Rockets (4-4, 0-2 SBC).
New London 10, Mapleton 3
At Nankin Township, New London took an 8-0 lead in the third inning and coasted to a 10-3 victory over Mapleton.
Nick Thomas was 5 for 5 with a pair of doubles for the Wildcats. He drove home a team-high four runs. Robert DePottey was 2 for 3 with a walk and three runs scored, while Keaton Ruggles was 3 for 4.
Dane Held (2-0) allowed five hits and five walks for three unearned runs in a complete game against the Mounties.
SMCC 8, Seneca East 2
At Attica, the Panthers rallied from a 7-2 deficit to tie the score in the top of the sixth, but yielded a run in the bottom half of the inning in a 8-7 loss to the Tigers.
SMCC (6-2) got a pair of hits from Cody Cantley, who also scored three runs. Trett Andrews, Brett St. Clair and Randy Mocilnikar each drove in a run for the Panthers, who play a Sandusky Bay Conference game today at cross-town Perkins.
St. Paul 7, Western Reserve 6
At Collins, Norwalk St. Paul jumped out to a 7-1 lead, then held off a late Western Reserve rally for its second victory of the season.
The Flyers (1-1, 2-5) rapped out 14 base hits including four by winning pitcher Joe Hinckley who delivered a double and three singles. Isaac Livengood poled a homer and two singles. and Ian Welch a pair of singles. Alex Foster drilled the key hit of the game, a three-run double in the fifth inning to put his team on top, 5-1.
For Western (0-2, 1-6), losing pitcher Kyle Pressley, Drake Grine and Jacob Munez collected two singles each. The Roughriders made it close with four runs in the bottom of the sixth and another in the seventh.
SOFTBALL
Edison 11, Oak Harbor 6
The Chargers scored seven runs in the fourth inning against the Rockets in an 11-6 victory in their Sandusky Bay Conference opener.
Oak Harbor scored six runs over the final two innings to make the game respectable.
Edison's Karlie Allison doubled for two RBIs, also drawing a pair of walks. Sarah Wallace was 3 for 4 batting, while Madison Cheek and KayLee Fox each had two hits for the Chargers (7-2, 1-0 SBC).
The Chargers' Susan Knight (3-2) struck out 11 and allowed six earned runs in the victory.
Seneca East 7, St. Mary CC 0
At Attica, the Panthers had only two hits in a 7-0 loss to Seneca East on Tuesday.
The Panthers committed two errors which led to three unearned runs for the Tigers. Jorden Edinger allowed 10 hits and a walk toward four earned runs.
Bellevue 11, Fostoria 0 (5 inn.)
At Fostoria, Bellevue's Lady Red scored seven runs in the top of the third inning to put their game against Fostoria well out of reach.
Sydney Vickery led Bellevue with three hits, two for doubles, with two RBIs, while Erika Jordan also had three. Hannah Lilly, Meredith George and Lindsey Yantz each had two hits for the Lady Red (5-2, 2-0 Northern Ohio League).
Norwalk 10, Willard 2
At Norwalk, the Truckers made a huge turnaround in one day against their conference foes from Willard.
Monday night the Norwalk Lady Truckers dropped a 9-5 decision to Fostoria in Northern Ohio League softball action, but the Truckers struck back Tuesday for a 10-2 victory.
The Truckers (7-4, 2-1) did just that Tuesday against Willard.
They rode an eight-run third inning to a 10-2 win at NHS.
The Flashes slipped to 2-7, 0-2 on the year. They have now dropped seven straight after starting the season 2-0.
W. Reserve 10, St. Paul 0 (6 inn.)
At Norwalk, Western Reserve routed the St. Paul girls in a six-inning game on Tuesday.
Western Reserve had 11 hits, while St. Paul only had one.
New London 10, Mapleton 0
At Nankin Township, Cassidy Wise struck out 17 batters and allowed three hits in a complete-game shutout effort over Mapleton.
Jose Hall and Lauren Scruggs each hit home runs for New London, which improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Firelands Conference. The 'Cats are at Plymouth on Thursday.
