With roughly two weeks of the regular season remaining in this 2025 regular season for varsity baseball, we take a look at this weekend’s action and look forward to the week to come, as well as analyzing the sectional brackets.
HERITAGE PATRIOTS (12-3 Overall) (2-1 in ACAC)
Heritage went from enjoying a long win streak to having a game suspended in the 13th inning and two straight losses at the end of last week. The Patriots face a very busy schedule this week, with ACAC games against Bluffton and Jay County, as well as the conclusion of the marathon Adams Central game.
The Patriots will need to figure out who throws what innings and they’re also hoping to get there pitching staff healthy in time for sectional.
In Friday’s 6-4 loss to Woodlan, the Patriots fell behind early, 3-0, then allowed three more runs in the top of the seventh to drop any chance of mounting a last-inning comeback.
Iastyn Roe was 3-for-4 with a home run. He also threw the last 1.1 innings, taking over for Max Mirelez. Each pitcher was hit with three earned runs.
The Patriots then had to take the field again Saturday and play Columbia City. That game was heard live on WZBD.
Heritage’s Opening Sectional Opponent: Marion (1-17) on May 28th at 4 p.m. at New Haven.
BELLMONT BRAVES (5-10 Overall) (0-4 in NE8)
The Braves have won just one of their five games in May, but things look more favorable in their schedule here in the final two weeks of the regular season.
Beau Baker has been a strikeout machine on the mound, striking out 60 batters in just 35 innings of work.
Where the Braves have struggled is at the plate. They are sixth in the NE8 in runs scored. Oliver Werling and Kaigan Lee have been leading the team in hitting and Matt Bleeke has proven to be one of their most improved players. Only those three Braves have a batting average over .290.
The team has plenty of time to get the bats going leading into sectional. Teams from around the area know that the Braves will be a tough out in the sectional with Baker’s strikeout rate presenting a big challenge to any opponent.
Bellmont’s Opening Sectional Opponent: Mississinewa (8-8) on May 28th at 6 p.m. at New Haven.
ADAMS CENTRAL (8-8 Overall) (3-1 in ACAC)
What an up and down season it has been for the Jets. A four-game win streak was halted last week by two terrible losses (by a combined score of 29-0). Then the team came out and went toe-to-toe over thirteen innings with ACAC title favorites, Heritage.
The Jets should win on Monday at the Ash Center against Bishop Luers, then take their best shot at finishing a big upset against Heritage on Wednesday. If they can do both of those things, they will look to pound rival South Adams to make a great week even better.
Adams Central’s Opening Sectional Opponent: Woodlan (8-12) on May 29th at 5:30 p.m. at Home.
SOUTH ADAMS (2-14 Overall) (1-3 in ACAC)
The Starfires have been better with the return of Luke Bauman in recent weeks. They got a much-needed victory over Southern Wells on Thursday, but gave up a slew of runs in Saturday’s two games, falling to Churubusco (15-8) and Frankon (23-9).
South Adams have a unique opportunity this week. They will play two of their top conference rivals in Adams Central and Woodlan, but they get a chance to take on Whitko in a doubleheader Saturday. The Wildkats will be the first-round sectional opponent in two weeks of the Starfires.
South Adams’ Opening Sectional Opponent: Whitko (10-7) on May 28th at 5:30 p.m. at Adams Central.
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