Trojans Take Pitcher’s Duel Over Wawasee 4-2
May 15, 2025 at 9:30 p.m.
SYRACUSE - On paper, Thursday’s non-conference baseball matchup between visiting Triton and Wawasee looked a bit lopsided, with the Warriors looking for their first win and the Trojans their 15th.
But pitching was a strong suit for both teams, with the Trojans rallying for a 4-2 win.
After sending the minimum number of batters to the plate in the first three innings, Addison Coy led off the Wawasee fourth with a single and stole second base. With one out, Ryan Mack beat out an infield single, with Coy advancing to third base.
Triton starting pitcher Drew Bingamon then faked a pickoff to third, and got Mack flat-footed in a rundown. Coy took off for home, and the throw sailed to the catcher’s right, going to the backstop and allowing Coy to score and Mack to advance.
Mack then scored Evan Byler’s single.
Triton answered in the fifth when Bingamon doubled to drive in Jadyn Prater and Isaiah Vaca. Max Johnson’s one-out single gave the Trojans the lead.
Bingamon drove in an insurance run with a sixth-inning single, scoring Blake Ousley.
Braxton Kaufman relieved Bingamon in the Wawasee fourth, and the two combined to collect a dozen strikeouts. Wawasee only had the one real scoring threat, and the Trojan pitchers didn’t walk anyone.
“We had the great pitching,” said Trojan head coach Mark Elliott. “They were on today and looked good. They kept their hitters off-balance early in the count.
“Credit to their pitchers, too. It was a real pitcher’s duel. Their starter was effective with his curve, and his fastball was something he blew past us. So credit to (Wawasee), too.”
Warrior head coach Andy Zaebst acknowledged the season-long losing streak has been tough on his team, especially over the last couple of days.
“Yeah, this is a tough one,” he said. “We were right there to get that first one, and coming off of that tough loss last night (Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to Northridge), we can’t quite get that breakthrough, but it’s coming.
Wawasee freshman Mark Haynes releases his pitch during Thursday evening's home game against Triton...Nieter
“We’ve has some really good pitching; we just need some timely hitting in key situations when we have runners in scoring position.”
Zaebst said his team is close to getting the proverbial monkey off its back, and the Warriors demonstrated a competitive attitude in the late innings.
“These guys, they don’t quit,” he said. “They support each other and love each other, and always have each other’s back. Lately we’ve been (breaking team huddles) with ‘family.’ We talked about that; when you’re family you support each other no matter what.”
Wawasee (0-17) will resume Northern Lakes Conference play tonight, hosting Plymouth at 5:30. Triton (15-7) will take on host school in the Culver Academies Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday. The start time for the Trojans second game is dependent on the result of the morning contest.
SYRACUSE - On paper, Thursday’s non-conference baseball matchup between visiting Triton and Wawasee looked a bit lopsided, with the Warriors looking for their first win and the Trojans their 15th.
But pitching was a strong suit for both teams, with the Trojans rallying for a 4-2 win.
After sending the minimum number of batters to the plate in the first three innings, Addison Coy led off the Wawasee fourth with a single and stole second base. With one out, Ryan Mack beat out an infield single, with Coy advancing to third base.
Triton starting pitcher Drew Bingamon then faked a pickoff to third, and got Mack flat-footed in a rundown. Coy took off for home, and the throw sailed to the catcher’s right, going to the backstop and allowing Coy to score and Mack to advance.
Mack then scored Evan Byler’s single.
Triton answered in the fifth when Bingamon doubled to drive in Jadyn Prater and Isaiah Vaca. Max Johnson’s one-out single gave the Trojans the lead.
Bingamon drove in an insurance run with a sixth-inning single, scoring Blake Ousley.
Braxton Kaufman relieved Bingamon in the Wawasee fourth, and the two combined to collect a dozen strikeouts. Wawasee only had the one real scoring threat, and the Trojan pitchers didn’t walk anyone.
“We had the great pitching,” said Trojan head coach Mark Elliott. “They were on today and looked good. They kept their hitters off-balance early in the count.
“Credit to their pitchers, too. It was a real pitcher’s duel. Their starter was effective with his curve, and his fastball was something he blew past us. So credit to (Wawasee), too.”
Warrior head coach Andy Zaebst acknowledged the season-long losing streak has been tough on his team, especially over the last couple of days.
“Yeah, this is a tough one,” he said. “We were right there to get that first one, and coming off of that tough loss last night (Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to Northridge), we can’t quite get that breakthrough, but it’s coming.
Wawasee freshman Mark Haynes releases his pitch during Thursday evening's home game against Triton...Nieter
“We’ve has some really good pitching; we just need some timely hitting in key situations when we have runners in scoring position.”
Zaebst said his team is close to getting the proverbial monkey off its back, and the Warriors demonstrated a competitive attitude in the late innings.
“These guys, they don’t quit,” he said. “They support each other and love each other, and always have each other’s back. Lately we’ve been (breaking team huddles) with ‘family.’ We talked about that; when you’re family you support each other no matter what.”
Wawasee (0-17) will resume Northern Lakes Conference play tonight, hosting Plymouth at 5:30. Triton (15-7) will take on host school in the Culver Academies Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday. The start time for the Trojans second game is dependent on the result of the morning contest.