Tigers Snap Losing Streak
Hawley, Witt lift Warsaw to 1-0 win over NorthWood
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Hosting Northern Lakes Conference rival NorthWood, the Tigers used a solid pitching performance from senior Kevin Hawley and a sixth-inning, RBI-single from junior Zach Witt to secure a 1-0 win.
The much-needed victory snapped a six-game losing streak for the Tigers, who improved to 6-12 overall and 4-6 in the NLC.
The Panthers, who beat Warsaw 2-0 earlier this season in Nappanee, lost for just the third time this season and are now 15-3 overall and 8-2 in conference play.
“It was a good game ... a good high school baseball game,” said Warsaw coach Mike Hepler, whose team’s most recent win was a 6-5 victory over Concord on May 1. “Kevin Hawley, I thought, did an outstanding job today, being in command, being in control, keeping them off-speed. We made a few good plays defensively. Our outfield made some nice catches. And we had a couple good plays in the infield, too.
“We executed about as well as we could’ve today,” continued Hepler. “I was really pleased with our effort. It’s been a long time coming ... this is what we expected, and now it’s finally coming true. It’s the way we’re capable of playing. We’re hoping now we can catch lightning in a bottle and catch fire.”
Hawley pitched a complete-game gem for the Tigers, giving up just five hits and walking one, while striking out four.
Hawley’s counterpart, NorthWood junior Chad Sellers, pitched all six innings, giving up six hits and a walk, while striking out two.
The extra hit Warsaw had proved to be the difference, as Witt’s 1-out single in the bottom of the sixth scored teammate Sterling Hay.
Hay led off the inning with a single of his own and then stole second and third, putting himself in better position to score.
The Panthers tried to make things interesting in the seventh inning, as Mitchell Hunsberger, batting with two outs, was hit by a pitch. Dominic Miranda followed with a walk, but the game ended when Warsaw leftfielder Ethyn Bradley caught Vincent Miranda’s long flyball.
“We’ve been talking about it all season ... you have to believe,” said Hepler. “Things haven’t gone our way much this season, especially in this stretch, but I feel like we kinda turned a corner today. I feel like I can sleep at night now. I was racking my brain, I didn’t know what to do. It feels good, on a sunny day, it was bring-a-teacher day, and that was exciting and fun, and we played a good baseball game and that was what we needed to do.”
Witt and Hay had two hits each for the Tigers, while Brad Christenberry and Cole Baker each had one.
Trent Sellers led NorthWood with two hits, while Tanner Cleveland, Drew Minnich and Chad Sellers each had a single.
Warsaw is in action again today in a weather-suspended game at Goshen, and then hosts Northridge Friday for Senior Day.
WARSAW 1, NORTHWOOD 0
NW 000 000 0 – 0 5 0
War 000 001 X – 1 6 0
NorthWood – Chad Sellers (L, 6IP, 6H, 1R, 1BB, 2K)
Warsaw – Kevin Hawley (W, 7IP, 5H, 0R, 1BB, 4K)
Records: NorthWood 15-3 (8-2 NLC), Warsaw 6-12 (4-6 NLC)[[In-content Ad]]
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Hosting Northern Lakes Conference rival NorthWood, the Tigers used a solid pitching performance from senior Kevin Hawley and a sixth-inning, RBI-single from junior Zach Witt to secure a 1-0 win.
The much-needed victory snapped a six-game losing streak for the Tigers, who improved to 6-12 overall and 4-6 in the NLC.
The Panthers, who beat Warsaw 2-0 earlier this season in Nappanee, lost for just the third time this season and are now 15-3 overall and 8-2 in conference play.
“It was a good game ... a good high school baseball game,” said Warsaw coach Mike Hepler, whose team’s most recent win was a 6-5 victory over Concord on May 1. “Kevin Hawley, I thought, did an outstanding job today, being in command, being in control, keeping them off-speed. We made a few good plays defensively. Our outfield made some nice catches. And we had a couple good plays in the infield, too.
“We executed about as well as we could’ve today,” continued Hepler. “I was really pleased with our effort. It’s been a long time coming ... this is what we expected, and now it’s finally coming true. It’s the way we’re capable of playing. We’re hoping now we can catch lightning in a bottle and catch fire.”
Hawley pitched a complete-game gem for the Tigers, giving up just five hits and walking one, while striking out four.
Hawley’s counterpart, NorthWood junior Chad Sellers, pitched all six innings, giving up six hits and a walk, while striking out two.
The extra hit Warsaw had proved to be the difference, as Witt’s 1-out single in the bottom of the sixth scored teammate Sterling Hay.
Hay led off the inning with a single of his own and then stole second and third, putting himself in better position to score.
The Panthers tried to make things interesting in the seventh inning, as Mitchell Hunsberger, batting with two outs, was hit by a pitch. Dominic Miranda followed with a walk, but the game ended when Warsaw leftfielder Ethyn Bradley caught Vincent Miranda’s long flyball.
“We’ve been talking about it all season ... you have to believe,” said Hepler. “Things haven’t gone our way much this season, especially in this stretch, but I feel like we kinda turned a corner today. I feel like I can sleep at night now. I was racking my brain, I didn’t know what to do. It feels good, on a sunny day, it was bring-a-teacher day, and that was exciting and fun, and we played a good baseball game and that was what we needed to do.”
Witt and Hay had two hits each for the Tigers, while Brad Christenberry and Cole Baker each had one.
Trent Sellers led NorthWood with two hits, while Tanner Cleveland, Drew Minnich and Chad Sellers each had a single.
Warsaw is in action again today in a weather-suspended game at Goshen, and then hosts Northridge Friday for Senior Day.
WARSAW 1, NORTHWOOD 0
NW 000 000 0 – 0 5 0
War 000 001 X – 1 6 0
NorthWood – Chad Sellers (L, 6IP, 6H, 1R, 1BB, 2K)
Warsaw – Kevin Hawley (W, 7IP, 5H, 0R, 1BB, 4K)
Records: NorthWood 15-3 (8-2 NLC), Warsaw 6-12 (4-6 NLC)[[In-content Ad]]
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