Tigers Gear Up For Softball Sectional
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Looking strictly at the wins and losses for the Warsaw Tigers, the phrase roller coaster comes to mind.
Warsaw started 1-4, then won the next four games in a row, then lost the next four, then won the next three, and has ended by winning five of seven. However, head coach Rod Yoder does not feel this team is on a roller-coaster ride.
"I think it's a little unfair," Yoder said. "If you look at our 12 losses, seven of them have been by two runs or less. We've been pretty steady. It hasn't been a case of us really falling apart in any game. It's just been an inning here, an error there, a missed opportunity to score."
Of Warsaw's first four losses, three came in the difficult LaSalle Classic in early April. The Tigers came back by outscoring their next four opponents 35-3 to get to 5-4. Four losses by a combined eight runs followed that as Warsaw fell to 5-8.
Since that point, the Tigers have really begun to steady themselves. They avenged a 10-8 loss to Goshen with a 9-0 win later in the season. They defeated their first round opponent in the sectional, Rochester, 4-1 to improve to 12-11 on the season.
And Warsaw's record against teams in the sectional is outstanding. If the Tigers get by Rochester, they will then meet Valley, whom they defeated Tuesday 4-0. After that, either Wawasee or NorthWood would be in the championship. Warsaw has defeated Wawasee 10-1 and 10-4 and lost an eight-inning affair to NorthWood 5-4.
The Warsaw defense has not been a problem. Rachel Liebsch and Shanna Smith have been a solid punch on the mound. Yoder feels that it is hitting that will decide the fate of this team.
"To steady it out, we have to concentrate on hitting," Yoder said. "It's not a weakness, but we haven't been doing it in groups right now."
Warsaw must win three games to win the sectional while the other teams only need to win two, but Yoder is not worried about that.
"I don't know if this is the teacher in me coming out or if this is the coach in me, but everytime you go on the field, you have a chance to win. Every game we can win heading into the sectional is another game of experience. So, I'm not bothered about having the extra game."
Warsaw will begin at home against Rochester today at 4:30 p.m. The winner of that game will meet Valley on Saturday at Warsaw at noon. The championship game will be at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Warsaw Softball Sectional
Wednesday, May 28
5 p.m. - Warsaw vs. Rochester
Saturday, May 31
10 a.m. - NorthWood vs. Wawasee
Noon - Valley vs. Warsaw/Rochester
7:30 p.m. - Championship
Bremen Softball Sectional
Thursday, May 29
5 p.m. - CGA vs. Triton
6:30 p.m. - Knox vs. Culver
8 p.m. - Plymouth vs. Argos
Saturday, May 31
10 a.m. - Bremen vs. CGA/Triton
Noon - Game 2 vs. Game 3 winners
4:30 p.m. - Championship
Huntington Sectional
Wednesday, May 28
4:30 p.m. - Manchester vs. Northfield
Thursday, May 29
4:30 p.m. - Whitko vs. Huntington N.
Saturday, May 31
4:30 p.m. - Championship [[In-content Ad]]
Looking strictly at the wins and losses for the Warsaw Tigers, the phrase roller coaster comes to mind.
Warsaw started 1-4, then won the next four games in a row, then lost the next four, then won the next three, and has ended by winning five of seven. However, head coach Rod Yoder does not feel this team is on a roller-coaster ride.
"I think it's a little unfair," Yoder said. "If you look at our 12 losses, seven of them have been by two runs or less. We've been pretty steady. It hasn't been a case of us really falling apart in any game. It's just been an inning here, an error there, a missed opportunity to score."
Of Warsaw's first four losses, three came in the difficult LaSalle Classic in early April. The Tigers came back by outscoring their next four opponents 35-3 to get to 5-4. Four losses by a combined eight runs followed that as Warsaw fell to 5-8.
Since that point, the Tigers have really begun to steady themselves. They avenged a 10-8 loss to Goshen with a 9-0 win later in the season. They defeated their first round opponent in the sectional, Rochester, 4-1 to improve to 12-11 on the season.
And Warsaw's record against teams in the sectional is outstanding. If the Tigers get by Rochester, they will then meet Valley, whom they defeated Tuesday 4-0. After that, either Wawasee or NorthWood would be in the championship. Warsaw has defeated Wawasee 10-1 and 10-4 and lost an eight-inning affair to NorthWood 5-4.
The Warsaw defense has not been a problem. Rachel Liebsch and Shanna Smith have been a solid punch on the mound. Yoder feels that it is hitting that will decide the fate of this team.
"To steady it out, we have to concentrate on hitting," Yoder said. "It's not a weakness, but we haven't been doing it in groups right now."
Warsaw must win three games to win the sectional while the other teams only need to win two, but Yoder is not worried about that.
"I don't know if this is the teacher in me coming out or if this is the coach in me, but everytime you go on the field, you have a chance to win. Every game we can win heading into the sectional is another game of experience. So, I'm not bothered about having the extra game."
Warsaw will begin at home against Rochester today at 4:30 p.m. The winner of that game will meet Valley on Saturday at Warsaw at noon. The championship game will be at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Warsaw Softball Sectional
Wednesday, May 28
5 p.m. - Warsaw vs. Rochester
Saturday, May 31
10 a.m. - NorthWood vs. Wawasee
Noon - Valley vs. Warsaw/Rochester
7:30 p.m. - Championship
Bremen Softball Sectional
Thursday, May 29
5 p.m. - CGA vs. Triton
6:30 p.m. - Knox vs. Culver
8 p.m. - Plymouth vs. Argos
Saturday, May 31
10 a.m. - Bremen vs. CGA/Triton
Noon - Game 2 vs. Game 3 winners
4:30 p.m. - Championship
Huntington Sectional
Wednesday, May 28
4:30 p.m. - Manchester vs. Northfield
Thursday, May 29
4:30 p.m. - Whitko vs. Huntington N.
Saturday, May 31
4:30 p.m. - Championship [[In-content Ad]]