FORT WAYNE -Ê"I give Columbia City credit," said Warsaw baseball coach Will Shepherd. "They flat out played better baseball than we did today."

The Tigers saw their season end in the first round of the Carroll Sectional Monday evening, falling to Columbia City 9-4.

"Columbia City was more aggressive at the plate," said Shepherd. "They hit the ball better and did a better job defensively. They refused to go down."

The Tigers took an early lead in the top of the first inning.

Ryan Cox opened the game with a first-pitch double to deep centerfield. Cox later scored on a two-out single by Brandon LaFollette, that gave Warsaw a 1-0 advantage.

But that lead did not last long as Columbia City produced two runs in the bottom of the first to go ahead 2-1.

The Tigers fought back in the second frame. Sharp opened the inning with a double, and scored on a one-out double by Jordan Williams.

Williams then moved to third after Tyler Stouder was hit by a pitch and Cox walked to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Williams to cross the plate and put Warsaw back in the lead, 3-2.

However, Columbia City fought back again. The Eagles scored two more runs in the bottom of the second to restore their lead, 4-3.

In the third and fourth innings combined, Columbia City held Warsaw scoreless while producing four more runs to take an 8-3 lead.

Mark Sherman broke Warsaw's scoring drought with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. His yard-ball sailed over the left-centerfield fence to cut Columbia City's lead to four, 8-4.

But the Tigers were unable to score from that point on. Columbia City's Colin Denihan hit a home run late in the sixth inning to pade the Eagle lead and make the score 9-4.

LaFollette pitched four innings and is credited with the loss. He gave up eight runs (seven earned) and 10 hits while striking out six and walking three. Cox entered the game in relief, pitching two innings with one earned run, one hit and one strikeout.

Cox also led the Tigers at the plate, going 2 for 3 with one run scored. Hans Griepentrog, LaFollette, Sherman, Sharp and Williams all added hits in the Warsaw effort.

"We were too unaggressive at the plate early," said Shepherd. "I am a bit disappointed, and I feel bad for our seven seniors who won't get the chance to play in the sectional championship game. We just didn't play well enough to get there today."

Warsaw finishes the season 13-15 overall.

CARROLL SECTIONAL

COLUMBIA CITY 9, WARSAW 4

Warsaw 120 010 0 - 4 7 2

Col. City 221 301 X - 9 11 1

Warsaw AB R H RBI

Cox 3 1 2 0

Griepentrog 4 0 1 0

Alderfer 4 0 0 0

LaFollette 3 0 1 1

Sherman 3 1 1 1

Sharp 4 1 1 0

Freds 4 0 0 0

Williams 3 1 1 1

Stouder 0 0 0 0

Chapman 0 0 0 0

Totals 28 4 8 3

Col. City AB R H RBI

Maggard 4 1 2 0

Downing 4 1 1 0

Foor 4 2 2 2

Denihan 4 1 2 2

King 4 0 1 1

Kreider 2 0 0 0

A Shively 0 1 0 0

Rohrer 1 0 0 0

Harrold 1 1 0 0

Davis 3 1 2 0

Long 0 0 0 0

T. Shively 2 1 1 1

Totals 29 9 11 6

LOB - Warsaw 9, Col. City 5. 2B - Cox, Sharp, Williams, Maggard, Davis. HR -ÊFoor, Denihan, Sherman.

IP R ER H BB K

Warsaw

LaFollette, L 4 8 7 10 3 6

Cox 2 1 1 1 0 1

Col. City

Denihan, W 1.1 3 3 4 0 2

Harrold 3.2 1 1 1 1 4

Denihan 0 0 0 1 1 0

Rohrer 2 0 0 0 0 1 [[In-content Ad]]