MASON, Ohio – Four playoff qualifiers advanced in the winner’s bracket as a busy day unfolded to begin the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Baseball Championship tournament bracket on Wednesday at PRASCO Park and Legacy Field.
 
The good news – all eight playoff qualifying teams remain alive and well in championship contention. The challenging road through the consolation bracket continues tomorrow for four programs who will be faced with an elimination game out of the gates.
 
Strategy from each coaching staff continues to become a major factor in how to prepare for the remainder of the tournament. On Day 1, you saw a few programs elect to throw their aces, but that wasn’t always the case as some coaches are saving some arms in their back pocket, essentially pinning their hopes on a Wednesday win.
 
No. 6 seed Hillsdale pounded out 15 hits against No. 3 Ohio Dominican to throw an early wrench into the bracket. The Chargers defeated the Panthers by a score of 7-2 at Legacy Field as starter David Toth fanned eight for the winning decision.
 
The hard-throwing righty mixed in a wipeout slider to keep Ohio Dominican’s lineup, full of all-conference selections, off balance. Toth was named to the all-conference earlier in the day himself as the league leader in strikeouts and a three-time selection for pitcher of the week.
 
He scattered three hits on 7.1 innings pitched and was on the hook for a pair of earned runs. Cooper Peterson had a pair of RBI, including a double, and the Chargers scored another run on an unconventional bases loaded balk. Leadoff man Cody Kanclerz went 3-for-5 with an RBI.
 
Over on PRASCO Park, it was No. 2 seed Walsh holding off No. 3 Cedarville as starters Hyatt Shenefield and Noah Schleinitz carred the weight for their respective programs. Both starters pitched well enough to win, but Alec Debruler blasted the first home run of the tournament, a solo shot in the fourth inning, to help lead the offense.
 
Shenefield was in control as he tossed a gem to improve to 7-1. He scattered four hits over seven innings and also struck out four.
 
It was an adventurous eighth inning for No. 4 seed Kentucky Wesleyan as the Panthers advanced from a pair of defensive miscues by No. 5 Tiffin. KWC broke a 1-1 tie with a pair of runs and starter Devin Smith was phenomenal over his complete game effort.
 
The 2019 conference pitcher of the year Smith recorded 11 strikeouts while helping his team advance. While being named first team all-conference today, he was engaged in a competitive duel with Tiffin starter Tyler Wehrle. He was backed with a triple and a home run by Ian Ellis as each team only had four hits on the day.
 
Smith gave up just one run on those four hits and Wehrle was the only pitcher utilized by the Dragons.
 
The nightcap featured more impressive pitching by top seeded Trevecca Nazarene and No. 8 seed Malone. This time it was Chase Haley vs. Eric Mullet in a 4-1 Trojans’ win. Haley gave up just one run on seven hits and also fanned six while working around a pair of walks.
 
Shawn Wallwork was 2-for-4 with a double and Trey Vanderpool also had an extra-base hit with a double.
 
Thursday’s action will begin at 10 AM ET over on Legacy Field with subsequent games to follow on the Great Midwest Digital Network.