Wawasee baseball nips Col. City
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
In baseball, an idle baserunner is an ineffective baserunner.
Wawasee found that out Tuesday, but still found a way to survive in the first round of the Warsaw Baseball Sectional.
The Warriors left 14 runners on base against Columbia City, but managed to find just enough offense to advance in the tournament 3-2 over the Eagles.
"We can't bunt," Wawasee coach John Blunk said. "We need to work on it. This is not a typical Wawasee team. In the past three years, 1 through 9 (in the batting order) could bunt."
The Warriors left the bases loaded three times in the seven innings and couldn't seem to get the key hit despite getting nine walks from three Columbia City pitchers.
Eagle starter Josh Monesmith came into the game with a sterling 10-1 record, but he walked four batters in three innings before getting replaced by Justin Waterson in the fourth. Waterson also walked four batters in only 1 1/3 innings, but still did not give up any runs.
Ryan Conley was the third pitcher, and he walked only one batter, but did give up two hits and the winning Wawasee run.
The go-ahead run came in the sixth inning when Rob Burke walked, moved to second on a sacrifice by Brad Swope and came around on Jesse Leonard's single, his third hit of the game.
"Jesse won the game," Blunk said. "He was the hero. If he doesn't get three hits, we don't win. We squeaked it out. We got a clutch hit from Jesse."
Wawasee's lefty ace, Rod Holterman, did his job by scattering five hits and striking out five. Both runs he allowed were unearned. The Eagles seemed to have the timing down against Holterman early as he gave up all five hits in the first four innings. But as the game went on, Holterman got stronger and set down eight of the last nine batters he faced.
"Two unearned runs doesn't make me happy either," Blunk said. "Rod did only throw 77 pitches, which means he can come back on Saturday."
Wawasee took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Shawn Johnson led off the frame with a walk and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Burke. Burke moved to second when the Eagles tried unsuccessfully to get Johnson at third.
Johnson scored on a wild pitch, and Burke came in on a single by Josh Mitchell.
Columbia City came back in the second inning to tie the score on two unearned runs. Bryan Sauders doubled to open the inning. The next batter, Aron Spreen, hit a comebacker to Holterman, and his throw to first went over Leonard's head, scoring Sauders. Spreen scored on a groundout by Derick Gipe.
Wawasee will now play Saturday at noon against the winner of the Warsaw-Central Noble game today.
"I don't care who we play, we just have to win," Blunk said. "Realistically, we are looking at the Tigers. They should win. We played them twice, but when it comes to this time, it doesn't matter. Anybody can win."
Whitko and Churubusco play the bye game on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., followed by Wawasee and the winner of the Warsaw-Central Noble game. The championship is set for 4:30 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]
In baseball, an idle baserunner is an ineffective baserunner.
Wawasee found that out Tuesday, but still found a way to survive in the first round of the Warsaw Baseball Sectional.
The Warriors left 14 runners on base against Columbia City, but managed to find just enough offense to advance in the tournament 3-2 over the Eagles.
"We can't bunt," Wawasee coach John Blunk said. "We need to work on it. This is not a typical Wawasee team. In the past three years, 1 through 9 (in the batting order) could bunt."
The Warriors left the bases loaded three times in the seven innings and couldn't seem to get the key hit despite getting nine walks from three Columbia City pitchers.
Eagle starter Josh Monesmith came into the game with a sterling 10-1 record, but he walked four batters in three innings before getting replaced by Justin Waterson in the fourth. Waterson also walked four batters in only 1 1/3 innings, but still did not give up any runs.
Ryan Conley was the third pitcher, and he walked only one batter, but did give up two hits and the winning Wawasee run.
The go-ahead run came in the sixth inning when Rob Burke walked, moved to second on a sacrifice by Brad Swope and came around on Jesse Leonard's single, his third hit of the game.
"Jesse won the game," Blunk said. "He was the hero. If he doesn't get three hits, we don't win. We squeaked it out. We got a clutch hit from Jesse."
Wawasee's lefty ace, Rod Holterman, did his job by scattering five hits and striking out five. Both runs he allowed were unearned. The Eagles seemed to have the timing down against Holterman early as he gave up all five hits in the first four innings. But as the game went on, Holterman got stronger and set down eight of the last nine batters he faced.
"Two unearned runs doesn't make me happy either," Blunk said. "Rod did only throw 77 pitches, which means he can come back on Saturday."
Wawasee took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Shawn Johnson led off the frame with a walk and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Burke. Burke moved to second when the Eagles tried unsuccessfully to get Johnson at third.
Johnson scored on a wild pitch, and Burke came in on a single by Josh Mitchell.
Columbia City came back in the second inning to tie the score on two unearned runs. Bryan Sauders doubled to open the inning. The next batter, Aron Spreen, hit a comebacker to Holterman, and his throw to first went over Leonard's head, scoring Sauders. Spreen scored on a groundout by Derick Gipe.
Wawasee will now play Saturday at noon against the winner of the Warsaw-Central Noble game today.
"I don't care who we play, we just have to win," Blunk said. "Realistically, we are looking at the Tigers. They should win. We played them twice, but when it comes to this time, it doesn't matter. Anybody can win."
Whitko and Churubusco play the bye game on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., followed by Wawasee and the winner of the Warsaw-Central Noble game. The championship is set for 4:30 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]