Tigers Rally Late To Win
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
[[In-content Ad]]Kauffman was up for the challenge, as he provided the game-winning hit, leading the host Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Warriors in eight innings of Northern Lakes Conference baseball action Wednesday.
With the score knotted at 3-3, Warsaw sophomore Josh Miller led off the bottom of the eight inning with a double, followed by a single from junior Jeff Himes.
Phillips, who, along with Warrior assistant Michael Barger, played his prep career for the Tigers, had relief pitcher Steve Hoover issue an intentional walk to Warsaw senior Justin Hanson.
With no outs and the bases loaded, Kauffman turned the first pitch he saw from Hoover into a game-winning single that scored Miller and improved the Tigers' overall season record to 10-4. Warsaw is 6-1 against NLC opponents, including a 9-0 win at Wawasee April 17.
"There was no outs in the bottom of the eighth and Hanson already had two hits," Phillips said of his decision to walk Hanson, who pounded out a double in the fifth inning and who has a hit in every Warsaw game this season. We were hoping we could get him (Kauffman) to put it on the ground, maybe we could get a double play."
Instead, Kauffman delivered his third single of the game.
"It was the right call," second-year Warsaw coach Mike Hepler said of Phillips' strategy. "I would have done the same thing. Justin already had a double and has been hitting the ball well. I'm proud of Blayke for stepping up the way he did."
The loss dropped Wawasee to 6-8 overall and 2-6 in the NLC.
Despite the loss, which included giving up 3-1 lead his team held in the fourth inning, Phillips said he wasn't dissapointed.
"I'm not dissapointed at all," said Phillips. "It's been a struggle just to get up for games and play for a whole game. We came out ready to play tonight and we were in the game for eight innings. We had a couple defensive lapses or we win the game 3-1. Warsaw, in my opinion, is the best team in the NLC. I'm excited we were able to stay with them. We'll use this as a stepping stone and focus on the rest of our games."
Just as Phillips was happy his team battled Warsaw, Hepler was excited his team
was able to succeed in a pressure-packed situation, something the Tigers may have to do when the state tournament rolls around.
"We needed to be in a game like this with pressure situations," said Hepler. "You can't simulate those things in practice. We came through in the clutch when the pressure was on. I'm proud of the guys."
Hepler also had nice things to say about Wawasee, a program that has struggled to win games in recent years, but one that has made strides with Phillips at the helm.
"Wawasee is really improved," said Hepler. "I really like the way they battled."
Warsaw scored the game's first run, as senior Derek Freds ripped a single in the first inning that scored Hanson, who led off the game with a walk.
Wawasee scored its first run of the game in the second inning when Chas Amadeo scored as crossed the plate when teammate Jacob Goldenberg reached first on a dropped third strike.
In an interesting turn of events, Freds was credited with four strikeouts in the second inning, but didn't officially retire the side until he fanned Mike Milligan.
The Warriors added two more runs in the fourth, and then the Tigers tied the game again in the bottom of the fifth.
Both teams had opportunities to score in the sixth and seventh innings but couldn't convert, and Kauffman became the hero in the eighth inning.
Freds went six innings on the mound for the Tigers, giving up four hits and three runs. He struck out seven and walked three, including the first two batters he faced.
Junior Jordan Kistler came on to pitch the final two innings and was credited with the win. Kistler gave up two hits and struck out one.
For Wawasee, Goldenberg lasted 5-2/3 innings, giving up nine hits and three runs, two of which were earned runs. He struck out five.
Hoover took the loss ater giving up two hits and one earned run in 1-2/3 innings of work.
At the plate, Dan Dingeldein was 2 for 4 with a double and a run for Wawasee, while Amadeo was 1 for 3 and scored two runs. Hoover had a double for Wawasee, while Goldenberg was 1 for 3.
For Warsaw, Kauffman had three hits, while Braden Kline, Hanson and Miller had two hits each.
[[In-content Ad]]Kauffman was up for the challenge, as he provided the game-winning hit, leading the host Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Warriors in eight innings of Northern Lakes Conference baseball action Wednesday.
With the score knotted at 3-3, Warsaw sophomore Josh Miller led off the bottom of the eight inning with a double, followed by a single from junior Jeff Himes.
Phillips, who, along with Warrior assistant Michael Barger, played his prep career for the Tigers, had relief pitcher Steve Hoover issue an intentional walk to Warsaw senior Justin Hanson.
With no outs and the bases loaded, Kauffman turned the first pitch he saw from Hoover into a game-winning single that scored Miller and improved the Tigers' overall season record to 10-4. Warsaw is 6-1 against NLC opponents, including a 9-0 win at Wawasee April 17.
"There was no outs in the bottom of the eighth and Hanson already had two hits," Phillips said of his decision to walk Hanson, who pounded out a double in the fifth inning and who has a hit in every Warsaw game this season. We were hoping we could get him (Kauffman) to put it on the ground, maybe we could get a double play."
Instead, Kauffman delivered his third single of the game.
"It was the right call," second-year Warsaw coach Mike Hepler said of Phillips' strategy. "I would have done the same thing. Justin already had a double and has been hitting the ball well. I'm proud of Blayke for stepping up the way he did."
The loss dropped Wawasee to 6-8 overall and 2-6 in the NLC.
Despite the loss, which included giving up 3-1 lead his team held in the fourth inning, Phillips said he wasn't dissapointed.
"I'm not dissapointed at all," said Phillips. "It's been a struggle just to get up for games and play for a whole game. We came out ready to play tonight and we were in the game for eight innings. We had a couple defensive lapses or we win the game 3-1. Warsaw, in my opinion, is the best team in the NLC. I'm excited we were able to stay with them. We'll use this as a stepping stone and focus on the rest of our games."
Just as Phillips was happy his team battled Warsaw, Hepler was excited his team
was able to succeed in a pressure-packed situation, something the Tigers may have to do when the state tournament rolls around.
"We needed to be in a game like this with pressure situations," said Hepler. "You can't simulate those things in practice. We came through in the clutch when the pressure was on. I'm proud of the guys."
Hepler also had nice things to say about Wawasee, a program that has struggled to win games in recent years, but one that has made strides with Phillips at the helm.
"Wawasee is really improved," said Hepler. "I really like the way they battled."
Warsaw scored the game's first run, as senior Derek Freds ripped a single in the first inning that scored Hanson, who led off the game with a walk.
Wawasee scored its first run of the game in the second inning when Chas Amadeo scored as crossed the plate when teammate Jacob Goldenberg reached first on a dropped third strike.
In an interesting turn of events, Freds was credited with four strikeouts in the second inning, but didn't officially retire the side until he fanned Mike Milligan.
The Warriors added two more runs in the fourth, and then the Tigers tied the game again in the bottom of the fifth.
Both teams had opportunities to score in the sixth and seventh innings but couldn't convert, and Kauffman became the hero in the eighth inning.
Freds went six innings on the mound for the Tigers, giving up four hits and three runs. He struck out seven and walked three, including the first two batters he faced.
Junior Jordan Kistler came on to pitch the final two innings and was credited with the win. Kistler gave up two hits and struck out one.
For Wawasee, Goldenberg lasted 5-2/3 innings, giving up nine hits and three runs, two of which were earned runs. He struck out five.
Hoover took the loss ater giving up two hits and one earned run in 1-2/3 innings of work.
At the plate, Dan Dingeldein was 2 for 4 with a double and a run for Wawasee, while Amadeo was 1 for 3 and scored two runs. Hoover had a double for Wawasee, while Goldenberg was 1 for 3.
For Warsaw, Kauffman had three hits, while Braden Kline, Hanson and Miller had two hits each.
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