By Nicholas Huenefeld

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

MILLBURY — Ryan Wagner and Jack Sobczak combined for a no-hitter on Wednesday as the Lake baseball team defeated Fostoria 16-0 in five innings.

The matchup, originally scheduled for the day of the upcoming solar eclipse, was the Northern Buckeye Conference opener for both teams, each fighting to stay warm with the game played in a low 40s temperature.

“I was really proud of the way our kids came out and approached the game in the cold,” Lake head coach Casey Witt said. “Sometimes it’s easy to come out in the cold and feel a little sorry for yourself, and you don’t always have the greatest focus. I thought the kids did that from the start. Even when we got the big lead, they kept that focus.”

Wagner was dominant through his four innings as the righty retired the first 10 batters he faced. He struck out seven total, including five straight between the second and third innings, while allowing just one walk.

“I felt pretty good,” Wagner said. “Coming back from an injury last year, I wasn’t able to do much throughout the summer. Getting back out there feels really good.”

Wagner threw first pitch strikes on 11 of the 13 batters he faced. Sobczak, meanwhile, faced just one over the minimum in the fifth as the Flyers erased a pair of runners on the bases, including the final out at home.

“Ryan pounds the strike zone,” Witt said. “He’s a model of efficiency, which then allows our defense to stay more engaged.”

Offensively, Lake scored 16 runs on eight hits and eight walks. Wagner and Drew Tajblik each tallied extra base hits while the team racked up three steals on the basepaths.

The explosion was highlighted by a 12-run second inning where Lake sent 16 batters to the plate. Five players registered RBI hits, including a two-run double from Wagner that put the Flyers up 14-0. Tajblik, Sobczak, Jay Blazevich and Caleb Tobias each chipped in RBI singles.

Patience was key for Lake at the plate, highlighted by them taking 13 consecutive balls to open the second and forcing Fostoria (1-1) into throwing 126 pitches overall.

“I thought on Monday our approach in the box wasn’t very good,” Witt said. “We worked really hard at it yesterday in practice, and I thought that we translated it and had a really good approach. We were patient, and it paid off. Our guys put into play what they practiced. That was really cool to see.”

Tajblik, Blazevich and Tobias each tallied a pair of hits for Lake while Sobczak (3), Blazevich and Wagner each knocked multiple runs in. Six different plays had at least two runs scored, including three apiece from Tajblik, Wagner and Gavin Kohlhofer.

The Flyers are now 2-0 to start the season, outscoring opponents by a combined 22-0 score. As a staff, they’ve allowed just four hits and four walks over 12 innings while racking up 21 strikeouts.

“We thought all along that pitching depth was going to be one of our strengths,” Witt said. “Two shutouts to start the year, we’ve picked it pretty well behind them. Throw strikes, make plays. (That) gives you a chance to stay in every game. It’s a good recipe for success.”

Lake is scheduled to close out the opening week at Swanton and Northwood on Thursday and Friday, respectively.