FULTON – Triton didn’t have its mojo working early Saturday at the Caston Baseball Regional, and, boy, was it costly.

Fort Wayne Blackhawk came out swinging right from the get go and overwhelmed Triton, 14-0, in a five-inning first game of the Class 1-A regional.

Blackhawk started out white-hot right from the start, recording four hits and a walk before making an out. A visually lethargic Triton defense couldn’t get to the gaps as a well-placed double from Bailey Sheldon made it 4-0 before the Trojans could coax an out. Nathan Targgart and Spencer Lee added RBI singles in the inning.

The Braves added a run on an error in the second, knocking out Triton starting pitcher Nathan Flenar, then later the duo of Targgart and Bailey again contributed RBI hits to push the lead to 7-0.

The Braves then sent 12 batters to the plate in the fourth, scoring seven runs on five hits, three walks and a Triton error. In the game, Blackhawk registered 12 hits and drew six walks off of Flenar and relievers Zac Pitney and Dylan Hensley.

“Nate just didn’t have a lot of snap on his ball like he did (at the sectional),” stated Triton head coach Brad Hargrave. “I think all three of the pitchers we put out today, the spots just weren’t there. They weren’t hitting the spots and with a good hitting ball team, they are going to put runs up and put runs up quick on ya. That’s how baseball goes.”

Conversely, Triton could not get its bats working at the plate. The Trojans managed just three hits and only threatened to score in the second inning, but left two on as Braves starter Riley Reimschisel worked out of the jam with a strikeout and grounder to second.

Reimschisel was brilliant in three innings of work, limiting Triton to two hits and a walk before being removed for Kyle Bleed, who allowed just two Trojans to reach in the final two innings of work.

“They hit the ball. Their ball had eyes, and our ball couldn’t see in the dark,” Hargrave said with a laugh. “That’s for sure. We didn’t tear the cover off the ball. But we hit it, just right to them. They just made great plays.”

Targgart, Sheldon and Bleed combined for seven hits and all had three RBIs each to lead the Braves.

Cordale Keyser, Landon Kaufman and Grant Stichter all had singles for the Trojans. The loss ends Triton’s season at 10-18 overall.

“I’m definitely proud of this team right here,” Hargrave said. “Them seniors, coach (Jake) Burnett and I have been with them since they were freshmen. They mean a lot to us. We’ve worked with them, and just really proud of them. To come out and get a sectional championship, that’s nothing to sneeze at. Them guys, I’m really proud of the entire roster. Now, let’s just go back to work.”

Triton, after winning its fourth sectional title last week, was seeking just its second regional title, the only other one coming in 2001. Blackhawk is seeking its ninth regional title this evening.

Fort Wayne Blackhawk (12-11) will return to Caston tonight to face Washington Township (17-12), a 7-3 winner against North White in Saturday afternoon’s game two.