DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
MAPLES – Heritage beat Van Wert 4-3 in the season opener Thursday night with just two RBI, taking extra bases at every possible moment and holding the Cougars scoreless in six of seven innings behind a strong outing for three different pitchers.
The home opener was started by Corbin Saalfrank, who struck out four and allowed just one hit. He was staked to a one-run lead when Beau Stoppenhagen came home and scored with one out and Max Mirelez at the plate.
Stoppenhagen took the mound to start the third inning and also issued two zeroes on the scoreboard. In the meantime, the Patriots extended their lead to 3-0, scoring a smart two-out run in both the third and the fourth.
Van Wert finally got on the board in the fifth, knocking Stoppenhagen off the mound, but Max Mirelez came in and mostly limited the damage, keeping the visitors from taking the lead.
A leadoff walk in the bottom half of the inning to Kingston Galentine set up Charlie Schlaudroff to knock in the eventual winning run.
Mirelez was outstanding in the last two innings, working around just one single to see out the game and earning the victory with two strikeouts.
Charlie Schlaudroff led the Patriots with two hits, a double and a single, from the #8 spot in the lineup.
The Patriots are set to play New Haven at Parkview Field on Tuesday.
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