{"id":35603,"date":"2026-04-10T11:36:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T15:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=35603"},"modified":"2026-04-12T12:12:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T16:12:37","slug":"patriots-play-small-ball-to-beat-van-wert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/patriots-play-small-ball-to-beat-van-wert\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots play small ball to beat Van Wert"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>DANE FUELLING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MAPLES &#8211; 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"373\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6753.jpeg?resize=640%2C373&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6753-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C596&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6753-scaled.jpeg?resize=300%2C174&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6753-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C447&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6753-scaled.jpeg?resize=1536%2C893&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6753-scaled.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1191&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6753-scaled.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6753-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Heritage&#8217;s Corbin Saalfrank takes a cut. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/09aprHER4VW3wrap.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>WZBD&#8217;s Rex Brewer wraps up a season-opening victory for the Heritage Patriots over Van Wert. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6719.jpeg?resize=640%2C696&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6719.jpeg?resize=941%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 941w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6719.jpeg?resize=276%2C300&amp;ssl=1 276w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6719.jpeg?resize=768%2C836&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6719.jpeg?resize=1411%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1411w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6719.jpeg?resize=1882%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1882w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6719.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Heritage hurler Beau Stoppenhagen delivers. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"362\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Business-Card-2024.jpg?resize=640%2C362&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Business-Card-2024.jpg?resize=1024%2C579&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Business-Card-2024.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Business-Card-2024.jpg?resize=768%2C434&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Business-Card-2024.jpg?w=1039&amp;ssl=1 1039w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Proud to sponsor Heritage athletes and teams on WZBD.com!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/09aprPassedBallScore.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Iestyn Roe scores on a passed ball to make it 2-0 in favor of Heritage. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DDDMaintenanceandReapir\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DDD_Maintenance_BC_4-23_for_AD-1.jpg?resize=640%2C366&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DDD_Maintenance_BC_4-23_for_AD-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C585&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DDD_Maintenance_BC_4-23_for_AD-1.jpg?resize=300%2C171&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DDD_Maintenance_BC_4-23_for_AD-1.jpg?resize=768%2C439&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DDD_Maintenance_BC_4-23_for_AD-1.jpg?w=1050&amp;ssl=1 1050w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"446\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728.jpeg?resize=640%2C446&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C713&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728-scaled.jpeg?resize=300%2C209&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C535&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728-scaled.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1069&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728-scaled.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1426&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728-scaled.jpeg?resize=825%2C575&amp;ssl=1 825w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728-scaled.jpeg?resize=590%2C410&amp;ssl=1 590w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728-scaled.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6728-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Alexander Benner scores for Van Wert to tie the game at 3-3. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A leadoff walk in the bottom half of the inning to Kingston Galentine set up Charlie Schlaudroff to knock in the eventual winning run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6746.jpeg?resize=640%2C363&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6746-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C580&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6746-scaled.jpeg?resize=300%2C170&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6746-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C435&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6746-scaled.jpeg?resize=1536%2C870&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6746-scaled.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1160&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6746-scaled.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6746-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Heritage sophomore Kingston Galentine eyes a pitch. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/apiland.net\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/API_Small.bmp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18308\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Proud to sponsor Heritage Athletics on WZBD.com!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"549\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6722.jpeg?resize=640%2C549&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6722-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C879&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6722-scaled.jpeg?resize=300%2C258&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6722-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C660&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6722-scaled.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1319&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6722-scaled.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1759&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6722-scaled.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6722-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Heritage third baseman Charles Schlaudroff prepares for action. (Photo by Randy Hisner)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Charlie Schlaudroff led the Patriots with two hits, a double and a single, from the #8 spot in the lineup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Patriots are set to play New Haven at Parkview Field on Tuesday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DANE FUELLING WZBD.com MAPLES &#8211; Heritage beat Van Wert 4-3 in the season opener Thursday night with just<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":35607,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[44,15,51,26],"class_list":["post-35603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-baseball","tag-featured","tag-heritage","tag-sports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_6719.jpeg?fit=2321%2C2526&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35603"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35612,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35603\/revisions\/35612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}