Timely Hitting, Defensive Gems Lead Warsaw Past Plymouth
April 21, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
Timely Hitting, Defensive Gems Lead Warsaw Past Plymouth
By Connor McCann-
Clean innings were not very common for either starting pitcher in this one, but both did a very good job at working out of trouble. Tiger starter Kyle Showley gave up two base hits in the first inning, but was able to strike out three hitters to prevent any damage. Warsaw was able to get two runners on in the bottom of the first, but overly aggressive base running ended the inning at third base.
A couple more Pilgrim baserunners would reach base in the second, but some nice defense, including a pickoff by Showley, stopped the momentum in its tracks. The bottom of the second featured a Warsaw rally that was just too much for Plymouth starter Cam Shively to get out of. The Tigers loaded the bases with their first three hitters, scoring the first run on an RBI walk from Logan O’Malley. A batter later, leadoff hitter Jette Woodward would send a fly ball to center field, deep enough for a sacrifice fly.
Not done yet, third baseman Josh Shapiro would come up clutch with a two-out single that would drive in two more runs. Now with a 4-run lead to protect, Showley ran into some problems of his own in the top of the third. Three straight singles to begin the inning would see Plymouth in a similar situation as the Tigers an inning prior: bases loaded and nobody out. The Pilgrims would only plate one however, as Showley would pick up a timely strikeout for his first out before giving up a sacrifice fly followed by a groundout.
Helping Showley out all evening long was the stellar play of the defense behind him. Miscues were few and far between for the Tigers on Friday night, while the highlights came in bunches. Catcher Cohen Heady made a laser of a throw to first to almost catch a Pilgrim baserunner napping before Showley picked him off moments later. Shapiro made a great play on a line drive at third in the fourth inning, throwing it over to first to double up the runner.
The Tigers added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Austin Polk. The top of the fifth saw the first clean inning by either pitcher as Showley went 1-2-3 to retire the Pilgrims in order. The Warsaw bats woke up once again in the bottom half of the inning, adding three more runs. Woodward and Wyatt Stapleton picked up RBIs in an inning that saw the Tigers taking a seven-run advantage.
Showley would strike out the Plymouth leadoff hitter to begin the sixth before running into trouble yet again with the next three hitters reaching base. That would be the end of Showley’s night after five and a third innings pitched. The senior picked up another win, striking out seven and allowing just two earned runs.
Shapiro would come in to close out the game and shut the door quickly, picking up three punch outs in the process. Warsaw would add one final run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double from Josh Reihl.
Kellan Bailey led the team in runs scored with three. Bailey got on base all four times he stepped to the plate. Woodward and Shapiro tied for the team lead with two runs driven in each.
Warsaw is back in action Saturday morning at 10 a.m., hosting the Leo Lions for a doubleheader at Tiger Field.
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Clean innings were not very common for either starting pitcher in this one, but both did a very good job at working out of trouble. Tiger starter Kyle Showley gave up two base hits in the first inning, but was able to strike out three hitters to prevent any damage. Warsaw was able to get two runners on in the bottom of the first, but overly aggressive base running ended the inning at third base.
A couple more Pilgrim baserunners would reach base in the second, but some nice defense, including a pickoff by Showley, stopped the momentum in its tracks. The bottom of the second featured a Warsaw rally that was just too much for Plymouth starter Cam Shively to get out of. The Tigers loaded the bases with their first three hitters, scoring the first run on an RBI walk from Logan O’Malley. A batter later, leadoff hitter Jette Woodward would send a fly ball to center field, deep enough for a sacrifice fly.
Not done yet, third baseman Josh Shapiro would come up clutch with a two-out single that would drive in two more runs. Now with a 4-run lead to protect, Showley ran into some problems of his own in the top of the third. Three straight singles to begin the inning would see Plymouth in a similar situation as the Tigers an inning prior: bases loaded and nobody out. The Pilgrims would only plate one however, as Showley would pick up a timely strikeout for his first out before giving up a sacrifice fly followed by a groundout.
Helping Showley out all evening long was the stellar play of the defense behind him. Miscues were few and far between for the Tigers on Friday night, while the highlights came in bunches. Catcher Cohen Heady made a laser of a throw to first to almost catch a Pilgrim baserunner napping before Showley picked him off moments later. Shapiro made a great play on a line drive at third in the fourth inning, throwing it over to first to double up the runner.
The Tigers added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Austin Polk. The top of the fifth saw the first clean inning by either pitcher as Showley went 1-2-3 to retire the Pilgrims in order. The Warsaw bats woke up once again in the bottom half of the inning, adding three more runs. Woodward and Wyatt Stapleton picked up RBIs in an inning that saw the Tigers taking a seven-run advantage.
Showley would strike out the Plymouth leadoff hitter to begin the sixth before running into trouble yet again with the next three hitters reaching base. That would be the end of Showley’s night after five and a third innings pitched. The senior picked up another win, striking out seven and allowing just two earned runs.
Shapiro would come in to close out the game and shut the door quickly, picking up three punch outs in the process. Warsaw would add one final run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double from Josh Reihl.
Kellan Bailey led the team in runs scored with three. Bailey got on base all four times he stepped to the plate. Woodward and Shapiro tied for the team lead with two runs driven in each.
Warsaw is back in action Saturday morning at 10 a.m., hosting the Leo Lions for a doubleheader at Tiger Field.
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