Tigers Storm Way To Win Over Valley
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
The storm Tippecanoe Valley’s baseball team couldn’t weather, however, was county rival Warsaw.
The host Tigers dominated from the get-go and rode a seven-run third inning and the pitching performance of senior Tanner Balazs to an 11-1 win in five innings.
Bouncing back from losses on Tuesday and Wednesday, Warsaw improved to 10-9 on the season, while Valley fell to 6-9.
“We’ve been talking about coming out from the first pitch and dominating the game, not just feeling our way through it,” said Warsaw coach Mike Hepler. “We did that tonight.”
The Tigers scored one run in each of the first two innings, and then took total control of the contest by plating seven runs in the third to take a 9-0 lead.
Warsaw added a run in the fourth inning, setting itself up to end the game with the 10-run mercy rule.
The Vikings scored their lone run of the game in the fifth, and the Tigers responded with a run of their own that ended the game in the home half of the inning when a double by sophomore Tyler LaFollette scored senior Josh Frantz.
Warsaw had nine hits in the win, while Valley had just two.
“Our pitchers struggled to get ahead in the count on them,” said first-year Valley coach Brandon Cody. “Warsaw is a good-hitting team. When you throw a lot of fastballs, they’re going to do what they did.”
Seniors Shay Hepler and Jared Lemler and LaFollette had two hits each for the Tigers.
Hepler finished the game 2 for 2 with a double and a triple to go along with an RBI and two runs scored.
“He’ really starting to swing the bat well,” the elder Hepler said of his son. “He’s been looking to drive the ball, and that’s been the difference. He’s getting comfortable and having a lot of fun. He’s really starting to lead our team. I’m proud of him.”
LaFollette and Lemler each had a double for the Tigers.
Freshmen Eric Hammer and Garrett Bell, Valley’s starting battery, had one hit each.
Hammer’s hit was a double.
“I told the guys they need to ponder on this game a little bit because there were several mistakes,” said Cody. “We need to ponder on it a little bit, but we still have to move on.”
While Warsaw’s hitters beat up on Hammer, Balazs was certainly in control of Valley’s hitters.
The junior hurler pitched four innings en route to the win, giving up one hit and one run, while striking out two and walking two.
At one point, he retired nine consecutive Valley batters.
Senior Taylor Berelsman pitched the final inning for Warsaw, giving up one hit and one run, while walking one and striking out one.
“It was good to have Tanner get the win,” said Hepler. “This is great for his confidence. Once he got settled in, he took control.”
Hammer was charged with the loss after giving up nine runs and six hits, while walking seven and striking out three in three innings of work.
Both the Vikings and Tigers are in action again tonight, as Valley travels to North Judson and Warsaw hosts conference foe Northridge for senior night.
WARSAW 11, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 1 (5 innings)
TV 000 01 – 1
W 117 11 – 11
Tanner Balazs (W, 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K), Taylor Berelsman (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K) and Jared Lemler; Eric Hammer (L, 3 IP, 6 H, 9 R, 7 BB, 3 K), Luke Helton (1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K) and Garrett Bell
2B – Hammer (TV), Shay Hepler (W), Tyler LaFollette (W), Lemler (W)
3B – Hepler (W)
Records: Warsaw 10-9, T. Valley 6-9[[In-content Ad]]
The storm Tippecanoe Valley’s baseball team couldn’t weather, however, was county rival Warsaw.
The host Tigers dominated from the get-go and rode a seven-run third inning and the pitching performance of senior Tanner Balazs to an 11-1 win in five innings.
Bouncing back from losses on Tuesday and Wednesday, Warsaw improved to 10-9 on the season, while Valley fell to 6-9.
“We’ve been talking about coming out from the first pitch and dominating the game, not just feeling our way through it,” said Warsaw coach Mike Hepler. “We did that tonight.”
The Tigers scored one run in each of the first two innings, and then took total control of the contest by plating seven runs in the third to take a 9-0 lead.
Warsaw added a run in the fourth inning, setting itself up to end the game with the 10-run mercy rule.
The Vikings scored their lone run of the game in the fifth, and the Tigers responded with a run of their own that ended the game in the home half of the inning when a double by sophomore Tyler LaFollette scored senior Josh Frantz.
Warsaw had nine hits in the win, while Valley had just two.
“Our pitchers struggled to get ahead in the count on them,” said first-year Valley coach Brandon Cody. “Warsaw is a good-hitting team. When you throw a lot of fastballs, they’re going to do what they did.”
Seniors Shay Hepler and Jared Lemler and LaFollette had two hits each for the Tigers.
Hepler finished the game 2 for 2 with a double and a triple to go along with an RBI and two runs scored.
“He’ really starting to swing the bat well,” the elder Hepler said of his son. “He’s been looking to drive the ball, and that’s been the difference. He’s getting comfortable and having a lot of fun. He’s really starting to lead our team. I’m proud of him.”
LaFollette and Lemler each had a double for the Tigers.
Freshmen Eric Hammer and Garrett Bell, Valley’s starting battery, had one hit each.
Hammer’s hit was a double.
“I told the guys they need to ponder on this game a little bit because there were several mistakes,” said Cody. “We need to ponder on it a little bit, but we still have to move on.”
While Warsaw’s hitters beat up on Hammer, Balazs was certainly in control of Valley’s hitters.
The junior hurler pitched four innings en route to the win, giving up one hit and one run, while striking out two and walking two.
At one point, he retired nine consecutive Valley batters.
Senior Taylor Berelsman pitched the final inning for Warsaw, giving up one hit and one run, while walking one and striking out one.
“It was good to have Tanner get the win,” said Hepler. “This is great for his confidence. Once he got settled in, he took control.”
Hammer was charged with the loss after giving up nine runs and six hits, while walking seven and striking out three in three innings of work.
Both the Vikings and Tigers are in action again tonight, as Valley travels to North Judson and Warsaw hosts conference foe Northridge for senior night.
WARSAW 11, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 1 (5 innings)
TV 000 01 – 1
W 117 11 – 11
Tanner Balazs (W, 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K), Taylor Berelsman (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K) and Jared Lemler; Eric Hammer (L, 3 IP, 6 H, 9 R, 7 BB, 3 K), Luke Helton (1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K) and Garrett Bell
2B – Hammer (TV), Shay Hepler (W), Tyler LaFollette (W), Lemler (W)
3B – Hepler (W)
Records: Warsaw 10-9, T. Valley 6-9[[In-content Ad]]
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