NEW PARIS — National Trail scored nine runs in the final three innings overcoming a 5-3 deficit to post a 12-5 victory Thursday against Tri-County North.

Blazers’ starting pitcher Jamison Watts went one for five at the plate to help his own cause with a double and scored one run. Watts pitched four and one-third innings, surrendered eight hits, five runs (one earned), with six strike outs and four walks.

Cooper Smith came on in relief and pitched two and one-third innings of no hit, scoreless ball with two strike outs. Nick Clark pitched one-third of an inning.

The Trail Blazers took a 1-0 first inning lead. Chase Ruebush hit a lead off single to right field, then stole both second and third base. Smith got hit by a pitch. He then stole second. Ruebush scored on a passed ball.

National Trail boosted its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. Watts belted a line drive double to right field. Smith singled to short with Watts holding at second. With Mason Leal at bat Watts stole third and Smith stole second. Leal drew a walk to load the bases.

Braylon Coffey grounded into a fielder’s choice to second baseman Gabe Heltsley forcing out Leal while enabling Watts to score with Smith advancing to third.

Coffey stole second and Kellen Laird hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Smith.

Tri-County North got all five of its runs in the top of the fourth. Ryan Shively drew a walk and Peyton Fannin reached on an error. Brylen Keener singled to center to load the bases. A passed ball enabled Shively to score with Fannin advancing to third and Keener to second.

Garner Parlett grounded into a fielder’s choice at second enabling Fannin to score and Keener to reach third. Carter Lake reached first on an error that allowed Keener to score and Parlett to reach second.

Parker Overcash got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Heltsley singled on a line drive to left to drive in Parlett and Lake as the Panthers took a 5-3 lead.

The Blazers answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Andrew Hamm drew a lead off walk and Gavin Vance reached on an error with Hamm advancing to second. Ruebush got hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Watts hit into a ground out enabling Hamm to score with Vance advancing to third and Ruebush to take second. Smith got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Leal reached first on an error that enabled Vance to score.

Coffey grounded into a fielder’s choice to second with Ruebush and Smith both scoring with Leal out advancing to second as National Trail took a 7-5 lead. The Blazers put the game away with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Smith led the Blazers two hits in two at bats and Coffey had two runs batted in. Ruebush stole three bases, Smith two, Watts two with Coffey and Leal stealing one base.

Fannin and Keener had two hits for the Panthers and Heltsley drove in two runs. Zach Jean took the loss on the mound pitching four innings, allowing four hits, seven runs (two earned), with three walks and four strike outs.

National Trail improved to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in Western Ohio Athletic Conference play while Tri-County North fell to 0-3 and 0-1 in conference play.

Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].