Not even a little drizzle and cold temperatures could cool the Warsaw softball team down. Playing their third Northern Lakes Conference game of the week Friday, the Warsaw Lady Tigers defeated the Plymouth Lady Pilgrims 15-5 in five innings at the Tigers Athletic Complex, finishing the week at 3-0 in NLC play. Warsaw (5-4, 3-0 NLC) began with a 3-1 conquest Monday at Wawasee, followed by a 4-3 home win over Goshen Wednesday, before the blowout over Plymouth (3-8, 0-3 NLC). “We talk a lot about the conference,” Warsaw coach Jim Speicher said. “We’ve had a couple close games, so it was nice to take care of business on our home field.” And the Lady Tigers didn’t waste much time. Following a quick 1-2-3 top of the first, the Warsaw hitters scored six runs in the bottom of the frame, capitalizing on five Plymouth errors and three walks. “They were having some trouble throwing strikes, then we did put a couple balls in play,” Speicher said. Warsaw senior pitcher Cari O’Hara did her job on the mound, surrendering one run in three innings of work, so Warsaw’s seven-run third inning, all but guaranteed a shortened game. “I think it’s progress from the last game we played,” Speicher said. “Our approach tonight was much better, from a concentration standpoint. I thought we had some good at-bats, good defensive plays and, for the elements, some good focus.” In all, Warsaw had six multi-base hits, with senior Kelsey Dotson’s fourth-inning home run pushing her to No. 3 on the state’s all-time home run list with 28. Along with Dotson’s bat, senior Kendra Marshall went 2 for 4 with two doubles and four runs and junior Kaitlin Wiley finished 2 for 3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Wiley missed the win over Goshen because of a death in the family, but Speicher was pleased with how she responded after being away from the diamond. “It was nice to see her stick was still going pretty good,” he said. Warsaw takes its four-game winning streak to Valparaiso today. WARSAW 15, PLYMOUTH 5 (5 innings) P 010 22 — 5 7 9 W 607 2x — 15 11 3 Cari O’Hara (W, 3IP, 1R, 1ER, 2H, 2K, 0BB), Taylor Stiver (4, 2IP, 4R, 4ER, 5H, 1BB, 1HR) and Kelsey Dotson; Britney Horvath (L, 4IP, 15R, 4ER, 11H, 1K, 4BB, 1HR) and Emilee Keilman 2B — Kendra Marshall (W) 2, Kaitlin Wiley (W) 2, Ashley Ousley (W) 3B — Darian Sarna (P), Morgan O’Neal (P) HR — Kelsey Dotson (W), Morgan O’Neal (P) Records — Warsaw 5-4 (3-0 NLC), Plymouth 3-8 (0-3 NLC) JV — Warsaw 23, Plymouth 6
