Showley Shows Out, Tiger Bats Come Alive In 14-2 Win Over Valley
April 13, 2023 at 12:21 a.m.
Showley Shows Out, Tiger Bats Come Alive In 14-2 Win Over Valley
By Connor McCann-
Tippecanoe Valley starting pitcher Cameron Manuel began the game with some control issues, walking the first three hitters of the game to load the bases for the Tigers without any outs in the inning. It wouldn’t take long for Warsaw to take advantage of its good fortunes, as cleanup hitter Hunter Dippon would single to center field and drive in the first run of the game. A couple of batters later, catcher Cohen Heady would rope a ball into the outfield grass to bring home two more.
Tiger starter Kyle Showley began the game with a misstep as well, hitting Viking leadoff man Hunter Craft on a full-count pitch. It would be the only mistake Showley would make for a while however, as the senior put together a masterful performance in the nonconference showdown. Showley went four innings, giving up two runs on two hits while striking out ten Valley hitters, including a streak of eight straight punch outs from the first to fourth inning.
“He’s been solid for us since his sophomore year and it’s a luxury to have a guy like him where you know what you’re going to get when he steps up to the mound,” Warsaw head coach Andy Manes said after the game. “He throws strikes, can change speeds. Good things tend to happen when he’s out on the mound and that’s obviously what happened tonight.”
Manuel’s control improved in the second inning as he struck out three Tiger hitters, though not without giving up some damage. Warsaw’s top two hitters, Jette Woodward and Josh Shapiro both reached base for the second consecutive inning and for the second trip in a row, Dippon would come up big in the cleanup spot. He’d mash a double to the center field fence that would drive in two more. Dippon tied the team lead with three RBIs.
After Showley made quick work of the Valley hitters in the top of the third, Warsaw got back to business. Heady led off the inning by adding another RBI to his total in the form of a solo home run to left center field. After a couple more hits put even more runners on the base paths for Warsaw, the Tigers were able to benefit from some shaky defense from the Vikings. With a heavy wind blowing outward all evening long, more than a couple balls were lost in the sky by outfielders.
After three errors in the inning by Valley, the Tigers had put four more runs on the board. For the third inning in a row, two runs were scored by Woodward and Shapiro. Eight of the Tigers’ 14 runs were scored by the top three batters in the lineup, including four by Woodward.
“Those guys find a way on base, and we tell them a walk is as good as a hit,” Manes said. “When those top three guys get on and our four, five and six hitters can come up with a chance to bring them in, we’re going to be in good shape.”
Warsaw would put up another four spot in the fourth inning, with the rally started off by another solo home run. This time, it was Kellan Bailey getting in on the action. Trailing by 13 runs heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Vikings were finally able to get something going. After catcher Annikan Pettit was hit by a pitch to become the team’s first base runner since the first inning, center fielder Markus Bernicky was able to capitalize, hitting a long ball of his own for a two-run home run that put Valley on the board. The next hitter, Manuel, would single for Tippy Valley’s second, and final, hit of the contest.
Warsaw was able to score one final run in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single from second baseman Khareus Miller. Warsaw pitcher’s Zac Miller and Oliver Nisen combined to get the final three outs of the game, with Miller striking out two and Nisen coming in and getting a punch out for the final out of the game.
The Tigers have a quick turnaround, traveling to Huntington North for a game Thursday night. The Vikings are back in action Friday for a road game against future conference foe Bremen.
“[Huntington North] already has gotten some good wins against some good teams so it should be a battle,” Manes said. “We tell these guys it doesn’t matter who we’re up against, we just have to play our game and see what happens.”
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Tippecanoe Valley starting pitcher Cameron Manuel began the game with some control issues, walking the first three hitters of the game to load the bases for the Tigers without any outs in the inning. It wouldn’t take long for Warsaw to take advantage of its good fortunes, as cleanup hitter Hunter Dippon would single to center field and drive in the first run of the game. A couple of batters later, catcher Cohen Heady would rope a ball into the outfield grass to bring home two more.
Tiger starter Kyle Showley began the game with a misstep as well, hitting Viking leadoff man Hunter Craft on a full-count pitch. It would be the only mistake Showley would make for a while however, as the senior put together a masterful performance in the nonconference showdown. Showley went four innings, giving up two runs on two hits while striking out ten Valley hitters, including a streak of eight straight punch outs from the first to fourth inning.
“He’s been solid for us since his sophomore year and it’s a luxury to have a guy like him where you know what you’re going to get when he steps up to the mound,” Warsaw head coach Andy Manes said after the game. “He throws strikes, can change speeds. Good things tend to happen when he’s out on the mound and that’s obviously what happened tonight.”
Manuel’s control improved in the second inning as he struck out three Tiger hitters, though not without giving up some damage. Warsaw’s top two hitters, Jette Woodward and Josh Shapiro both reached base for the second consecutive inning and for the second trip in a row, Dippon would come up big in the cleanup spot. He’d mash a double to the center field fence that would drive in two more. Dippon tied the team lead with three RBIs.
After Showley made quick work of the Valley hitters in the top of the third, Warsaw got back to business. Heady led off the inning by adding another RBI to his total in the form of a solo home run to left center field. After a couple more hits put even more runners on the base paths for Warsaw, the Tigers were able to benefit from some shaky defense from the Vikings. With a heavy wind blowing outward all evening long, more than a couple balls were lost in the sky by outfielders.
After three errors in the inning by Valley, the Tigers had put four more runs on the board. For the third inning in a row, two runs were scored by Woodward and Shapiro. Eight of the Tigers’ 14 runs were scored by the top three batters in the lineup, including four by Woodward.
“Those guys find a way on base, and we tell them a walk is as good as a hit,” Manes said. “When those top three guys get on and our four, five and six hitters can come up with a chance to bring them in, we’re going to be in good shape.”
Warsaw would put up another four spot in the fourth inning, with the rally started off by another solo home run. This time, it was Kellan Bailey getting in on the action. Trailing by 13 runs heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Vikings were finally able to get something going. After catcher Annikan Pettit was hit by a pitch to become the team’s first base runner since the first inning, center fielder Markus Bernicky was able to capitalize, hitting a long ball of his own for a two-run home run that put Valley on the board. The next hitter, Manuel, would single for Tippy Valley’s second, and final, hit of the contest.
Warsaw was able to score one final run in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single from second baseman Khareus Miller. Warsaw pitcher’s Zac Miller and Oliver Nisen combined to get the final three outs of the game, with Miller striking out two and Nisen coming in and getting a punch out for the final out of the game.
The Tigers have a quick turnaround, traveling to Huntington North for a game Thursday night. The Vikings are back in action Friday for a road game against future conference foe Bremen.
“[Huntington North] already has gotten some good wins against some good teams so it should be a battle,” Manes said. “We tell these guys it doesn’t matter who we’re up against, we just have to play our game and see what happens.”
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