Wawasee Baseball Team Fails To Capitalize Against Plymouth
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
In the Northern Lakes Conference game in Syracuse, the Warriors (4-7, 1-4 NLC) left eight runners on base, six of which were in scoring position, in a 6-5 loss to the Plymouth Pilgrims (9-3, 3-2 NLC).[[In-content Ad]]"We needed to move some runners," Wawasee coach John Blunk said. "We got a leadoff double by Si (Shear in the fifth inning) and couldn't move him over. Then we end it with (Ryan Hoover) at third and one out (in the seventh), and we don't get him in. It's just one of those things."
Trailing 6-5 in the fourth, Wawasee left the bases loaded, then didn't capitalize on Shear's leadoff double in the fifth, as Plymouth senior pitcher Tyler Shook got out of the inning with two strikeouts and a groundout.
Wawasee junior Josh Dingeldein led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk, and was replaced by Hoover as a pinch runner. Hoover moved to second on a groundout and got to third on a steal with only one out. However, Shook then struck out junior Dylan Wallace and got junior Jeremy Sorensen to groundout to second base, ending the game.
"We made the routine play when we needed to at the end," Plymouth coach Tony Plothow said. "Give some credit to our kids, but (Wawasee) is a scrappy team and they played us tough. Hopefully, we can build on this and keep moving here in the conference.'
The timely hitting wasn't the only thing lacking Wednesday, as the Wawasee defense also had a breakdown.
Following a three-run third inning, which tied the game at 3-3, Wawasee opened the fourth by committing back-to-back errors, opening the door for a three-run inning by the Pilgrims.
"If we get the first two groundball outs, they don't score and we're still tied," Blunk said. "Then, we come back and score some runs."
Wawasee did score more runs, they just didn't score enough to help out the pitching staff, which got started with sophomore Joe Fleagle, who went three innings and gave up three runs. Junior Nate Schwartz was on the mound for the fourth inning, and was issued the loss going 3-1/3 innings.
"It's not easy to be a sophomore and starting an NLC game," Blunk said about Joe Fleagle. "Then, Nate came in and did a good job and Phil (Fleagle) came in and did a good job (in the seventh). But none of them had their best stuff."
Blunk used three pitchers in the loss, but Plothow stuck with Shook until the end, allowing him to throw 115 pitches.
"We're hoping these guys can go at least 100 to 110 pitches," Plothow said. "He wanted to the ball. He wanted to finish."
Shook struck out six in the win, but did walk three and hit three others, while giving up seven hits and four earned runs.
"It's not like we're not going out facing everybody's No. 1 (pitcher)," Blunk said. "Everybody's bringing their No. 1 against us. I'd like to see their No. 5 or 6, but we're never going to do that."
In the loss, senior Jake Sommers went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and junior Cody Blunk went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Wawasee is back in action Friday at home against Goshen, beginning at 5 p.m.
PLYMOUTH 6, WAWASEE 5
P 210 300 0 - 6 8 4
W 003 200 0 - 5 7 3
Tyler Shook (W, 2-2, 7IP, 5R, 4ER, 7H, 6K, 3BB, 3HB) and Kyle Cartwright; Joe Fleagle (ND, 3IP, 3R, 3ER, 5H, 4BB), Nate Schwartz (4, L, 1-2, 3-1/3IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H, 2BB), Phil Fleagle (7, 0R, 1K) and Dylan Wallace
2B - Kory Hinz (P), Si Shear (W)
Records: Plymouth 9-3 (3-2 NLC), Wawasee 4-7 (1-4 NLC)
JV - Wawasee 6, Plymouth 5
P 100 000 4 - 5 6 1
W 203 001 x - 6 7 3
Thomas (W, 7IP) and Goldsworthy
2B - Rhodes (W)
HR - Sorensen (W)
Wawasee Record: 3-6 (1-4 NLC)
In the Northern Lakes Conference game in Syracuse, the Warriors (4-7, 1-4 NLC) left eight runners on base, six of which were in scoring position, in a 6-5 loss to the Plymouth Pilgrims (9-3, 3-2 NLC).[[In-content Ad]]"We needed to move some runners," Wawasee coach John Blunk said. "We got a leadoff double by Si (Shear in the fifth inning) and couldn't move him over. Then we end it with (Ryan Hoover) at third and one out (in the seventh), and we don't get him in. It's just one of those things."
Trailing 6-5 in the fourth, Wawasee left the bases loaded, then didn't capitalize on Shear's leadoff double in the fifth, as Plymouth senior pitcher Tyler Shook got out of the inning with two strikeouts and a groundout.
Wawasee junior Josh Dingeldein led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk, and was replaced by Hoover as a pinch runner. Hoover moved to second on a groundout and got to third on a steal with only one out. However, Shook then struck out junior Dylan Wallace and got junior Jeremy Sorensen to groundout to second base, ending the game.
"We made the routine play when we needed to at the end," Plymouth coach Tony Plothow said. "Give some credit to our kids, but (Wawasee) is a scrappy team and they played us tough. Hopefully, we can build on this and keep moving here in the conference.'
The timely hitting wasn't the only thing lacking Wednesday, as the Wawasee defense also had a breakdown.
Following a three-run third inning, which tied the game at 3-3, Wawasee opened the fourth by committing back-to-back errors, opening the door for a three-run inning by the Pilgrims.
"If we get the first two groundball outs, they don't score and we're still tied," Blunk said. "Then, we come back and score some runs."
Wawasee did score more runs, they just didn't score enough to help out the pitching staff, which got started with sophomore Joe Fleagle, who went three innings and gave up three runs. Junior Nate Schwartz was on the mound for the fourth inning, and was issued the loss going 3-1/3 innings.
"It's not easy to be a sophomore and starting an NLC game," Blunk said about Joe Fleagle. "Then, Nate came in and did a good job and Phil (Fleagle) came in and did a good job (in the seventh). But none of them had their best stuff."
Blunk used three pitchers in the loss, but Plothow stuck with Shook until the end, allowing him to throw 115 pitches.
"We're hoping these guys can go at least 100 to 110 pitches," Plothow said. "He wanted to the ball. He wanted to finish."
Shook struck out six in the win, but did walk three and hit three others, while giving up seven hits and four earned runs.
"It's not like we're not going out facing everybody's No. 1 (pitcher)," Blunk said. "Everybody's bringing their No. 1 against us. I'd like to see their No. 5 or 6, but we're never going to do that."
In the loss, senior Jake Sommers went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and junior Cody Blunk went 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Wawasee is back in action Friday at home against Goshen, beginning at 5 p.m.
PLYMOUTH 6, WAWASEE 5
P 210 300 0 - 6 8 4
W 003 200 0 - 5 7 3
Tyler Shook (W, 2-2, 7IP, 5R, 4ER, 7H, 6K, 3BB, 3HB) and Kyle Cartwright; Joe Fleagle (ND, 3IP, 3R, 3ER, 5H, 4BB), Nate Schwartz (4, L, 1-2, 3-1/3IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H, 2BB), Phil Fleagle (7, 0R, 1K) and Dylan Wallace
2B - Kory Hinz (P), Si Shear (W)
Records: Plymouth 9-3 (3-2 NLC), Wawasee 4-7 (1-4 NLC)
JV - Wawasee 6, Plymouth 5
P 100 000 4 - 5 6 1
W 203 001 x - 6 7 3
Thomas (W, 7IP) and Goldsworthy
2B - Rhodes (W)
HR - Sorensen (W)
Wawasee Record: 3-6 (1-4 NLC)
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