Triton Athletics

NAPPANEE — Triton did its damage early and then survived a late scare Wednesday, edging NorthWood 5-4 for a season opening road win. The Trojans scored four times in the top of the first inning, added what proved to be the decisive run in the third, and held on even after the Panthers pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Triton finished with only three hits, but the Trojans made the most of their opportunities by drawing seven walks and forcing NorthWood starter Brady Blackford to work from behind all afternoon. Braxton Kaufman had two of Triton’s three hits and also scored a run, while Trey Tarlton added the other hit. Maddox Dennie and Blake Ousley each drove in two runs, and Max Johnson added an RBI as Triton built a 5-2 lead through three innings. Kaufman also earned the win on the mound, giving Triton four innings while allowing two earned runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Drew Bingamon handled the final three innings in relief. NorthWood collected five hits against him and scored twice in the seventh, but both runs were unearned, allowing Triton to escape with the one-run victory despite committing five errors. NorthWood threatened throughout by piling up nine hits. Ean Bogan scored twice, Finley Miller drove in a run, and Brody Rondeau delivered the biggest blow for the Panthers with three RBIs. Ryder Ransberger doubled, Drew Rains also had a double, and Brady Weaver, Sade Yoder, Travis Rouch, Miller, and Rondeau all contributed to a steady offensive effort that nearly erased Triton’s early cushion. In the end, though, Triton’s first-inning surge made the difference. Blackford struck out seven in four innings, and Ean Bogan turned in three scoreless innings of relief, but the Panthers could not fully recover from the early deficit. Triton left with the win despite being out-hit 9-3, while NorthWood was left to wonder what might have been after rallying in its final at-bat. TRITON 5, NORTHWOOD 4 Wednesday, April 1, 2026 — at NorthWood Triton 401 000 0 - 5 3 5 NorthWood 200 000 2 - 4 9 0 TRITON: Kaufman 2-3, R, 2 RBI (p); Tarlton 1-2, R; Dennie 0-3, 2 RBI; Ousley 0-2, 2 RBI, SF; Bingamon 0-3, R; McFarland 0-1, R; Johnson 0-0, R, RBI. NORTHWOOD: Rondeau 2-4, 3 RBI; Ransberger 1-4, R, 2B; Bogan 1-4, 2R; Miller 1-3, RBI; Rains 1-4, 2B; Weaver 1-4, R; Yoder 1-4; Rouch 1-3. PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO Kaufman (W) 4.0 4 2 2 1 4 Bingamon 3.0 5 2 0 0 1 Blackford (L) 4.0 2 5 5 5 7 Bogan 3.0 1 0 0 2 3 Records: Triton 1-0 (0–0 HNAC), NorthWood 1-1 (0-0 NLC). Next: Triton @ Valley (April 2, 5:30 pm); NorthWood @ West Noble (April 13, 5:30 pm). Article writing assisted by AI Media outlets and fans are encouraged to share our posts on Facebook; however, you may not reproduce the articles or accompanying images on your own website.