Warsaw Wins Big Game Over NLC Foe Plymouth
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
If the Northern Lakes Conference baseball game between Plymouth and Warsaw could be described in just one word, it would be "huge".
At least according to Warsaw coach Will Shepherd, that is.
"We played at a high level, and so did Plymouth," said the elated Warsaw skipper after his team defeated Plymouth 4-2 Friday afternoon. "But as fun as that was, it was only one game. I am trying to temper my exuberance because we have 14 more to go. This was a big win, but we have to keep playing well in the conference."
The Tigers took the lead early, scoring one run in the second inning after a Zack Smith triple led off the inning. Jeremy Sharp hit a fielder's choice to the pitcher that allowed Smith to cross the plate and put Warsaw up 1-0.
Plymouth tied the score in the top of the fifth, but Warsaw didn't let the game stay tied for long.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Sean Alderfer hit a single with one out to spark the Tiger offense. Brandon LaFollette hit a triple to send Alderfer across the plate and break the tie.
A sacrifice fly to left field by Ryan DeGeeter scored LaFollette, and the Warsaw squad held a 3-1 advantage.
Plymouth put a scare into the Tiger faithful when pitcher Nick Correll opened the sixth inning with a single. A fielder's choice hit by Pilgrim Blake Ruff sent Correll to the bench but left a runner on base with just one out.
However, DeGeeter served up a perfect double-play ball and Plymouth's Josh Dietz took the bait, hitting the ball to second baseman Jeremy Sharp. Sharp tossed the ball to short stop Alderfer, who then turned the double play by making a successful throw to first baseman William Knepper, snuffing the Plymouth threat.
Smith struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning, hitting a solo home run over the left-field fence that added a bit of insurance for the Tigers.
"Zack likes competition," said Shepherd. "He wants to be in there. He will fight, scratch and claw, whatever he has to do to play well, and that's what you have to do to be successful in this league. He came to play tonight."
The Pilgrims tried to make a comeback in the top of the seventh inning. The Plymouth squad scored one run and had runners on first and second base with two outs when Adam Foust stepped into the batter's box. With a full count, Foust hit a pop-fly to centerfield to end the game.
DeGeeter picked up the win on the mound, pitching seven innings with six strikeouts and two walks. He allowed six hits and two runs.
"Ryan did a good job keeping them off balance," said Shepherd. "Plymouth is a team that wants to go up there and takes their hacks. Ryan did an extremely good job, and I couldn't be prouder of him."
Smith was the star of the night for the Tigers with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate. He had a single, a triple, a home run and scored twice for the Warsaw squad.
Alderfer added two hits for Warsaw, while LaFollette, DeGeeter, Sharp and Nunez each had one hit for the Tigers.
Warsaw improves to 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the Northern Lakes Conference. The Tigers travel to Nappanee for an NLC game against the NorthWood Panthers Monday at 4:30 p.m.
WARSAW 4, PLYMOUTH 2
Plymouth 000 010 1 - 2 6 1
Warsaw 010 021 X - 4 9 2
Plymouth AB R H RBI
Clinton cf 4 0 0 0
Crum 2b 3 0 0 0
Foust rf 4 0 0 0
Correll p 1 0 1 0
Manson pr 0 0 0 0
Ruff dh 3 0 0 0
Dietz 1b 3 0 0 0
Miller3b 3 2 2 0
Haug c 3 0 2 1
Carpenter pr 3 0 2 1
Marquardt lf 2 0 1 0
Totals 26 2 6 1
Warsaw AB R H RBI
Alderfer ss 3 1 2 0
LaFollette cf 2 1 1 1
DeGeeter p 2 0 1 1
Knepper 1b 3 0 0 0
Smith rf 3 2 3 1
Stork c 3 0 0 0
Sharp 2b 3 0 1 1
Nunez 3b 3 0 1 0
O'Neill lf 2 0 0 0
Totals 24 4 9 4
LOB -ÊPlymouth 7, Warsaw 4. 2B - Houg. 3B - Smith, LaFollette. HR - Smith. SB - Miller. CS - Alderfer, Smith. Sac - Marquardt, DeGeeter, LaFollette.
IP R ER H BB K
Plymouth
Correll, L 6 4 4 9 0 7
Warsaw
DeGeeter, W 7 2 1 6 2 6
HB - DeGeeter 1. [[In-content Ad]]
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If the Northern Lakes Conference baseball game between Plymouth and Warsaw could be described in just one word, it would be "huge".
At least according to Warsaw coach Will Shepherd, that is.
"We played at a high level, and so did Plymouth," said the elated Warsaw skipper after his team defeated Plymouth 4-2 Friday afternoon. "But as fun as that was, it was only one game. I am trying to temper my exuberance because we have 14 more to go. This was a big win, but we have to keep playing well in the conference."
The Tigers took the lead early, scoring one run in the second inning after a Zack Smith triple led off the inning. Jeremy Sharp hit a fielder's choice to the pitcher that allowed Smith to cross the plate and put Warsaw up 1-0.
Plymouth tied the score in the top of the fifth, but Warsaw didn't let the game stay tied for long.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Sean Alderfer hit a single with one out to spark the Tiger offense. Brandon LaFollette hit a triple to send Alderfer across the plate and break the tie.
A sacrifice fly to left field by Ryan DeGeeter scored LaFollette, and the Warsaw squad held a 3-1 advantage.
Plymouth put a scare into the Tiger faithful when pitcher Nick Correll opened the sixth inning with a single. A fielder's choice hit by Pilgrim Blake Ruff sent Correll to the bench but left a runner on base with just one out.
However, DeGeeter served up a perfect double-play ball and Plymouth's Josh Dietz took the bait, hitting the ball to second baseman Jeremy Sharp. Sharp tossed the ball to short stop Alderfer, who then turned the double play by making a successful throw to first baseman William Knepper, snuffing the Plymouth threat.
Smith struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning, hitting a solo home run over the left-field fence that added a bit of insurance for the Tigers.
"Zack likes competition," said Shepherd. "He wants to be in there. He will fight, scratch and claw, whatever he has to do to play well, and that's what you have to do to be successful in this league. He came to play tonight."
The Pilgrims tried to make a comeback in the top of the seventh inning. The Plymouth squad scored one run and had runners on first and second base with two outs when Adam Foust stepped into the batter's box. With a full count, Foust hit a pop-fly to centerfield to end the game.
DeGeeter picked up the win on the mound, pitching seven innings with six strikeouts and two walks. He allowed six hits and two runs.
"Ryan did a good job keeping them off balance," said Shepherd. "Plymouth is a team that wants to go up there and takes their hacks. Ryan did an extremely good job, and I couldn't be prouder of him."
Smith was the star of the night for the Tigers with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate. He had a single, a triple, a home run and scored twice for the Warsaw squad.
Alderfer added two hits for Warsaw, while LaFollette, DeGeeter, Sharp and Nunez each had one hit for the Tigers.
Warsaw improves to 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the Northern Lakes Conference. The Tigers travel to Nappanee for an NLC game against the NorthWood Panthers Monday at 4:30 p.m.
WARSAW 4, PLYMOUTH 2
Plymouth 000 010 1 - 2 6 1
Warsaw 010 021 X - 4 9 2
Plymouth AB R H RBI
Clinton cf 4 0 0 0
Crum 2b 3 0 0 0
Foust rf 4 0 0 0
Correll p 1 0 1 0
Manson pr 0 0 0 0
Ruff dh 3 0 0 0
Dietz 1b 3 0 0 0
Miller3b 3 2 2 0
Haug c 3 0 2 1
Carpenter pr 3 0 2 1
Marquardt lf 2 0 1 0
Totals 26 2 6 1
Warsaw AB R H RBI
Alderfer ss 3 1 2 0
LaFollette cf 2 1 1 1
DeGeeter p 2 0 1 1
Knepper 1b 3 0 0 0
Smith rf 3 2 3 1
Stork c 3 0 0 0
Sharp 2b 3 0 1 1
Nunez 3b 3 0 1 0
O'Neill lf 2 0 0 0
Totals 24 4 9 4
LOB -ÊPlymouth 7, Warsaw 4. 2B - Houg. 3B - Smith, LaFollette. HR - Smith. SB - Miller. CS - Alderfer, Smith. Sac - Marquardt, DeGeeter, LaFollette.
IP R ER H BB K
Plymouth
Correll, L 6 4 4 9 0 7
Warsaw
DeGeeter, W 7 2 1 6 2 6
HB - DeGeeter 1. [[In-content Ad]]