Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
COLUMBIA CITY - Second-year Warsaw softball coach Scott Freds said it's been a problem all year, and Tuesday evening in the Columbia City Sectional at Morsches Park, it did his team in.
"It's been a problem all year, scoring runs," said Freds. "It'll get you."
The Tigers opened sectional play against East Noble Tuesday and were held to three hits, ending their season with a 2-0 loss.
While Warsaw was able to put the bat on the ball at times, when they did it was a ground ball or an pop fly hit directly at an East Noble player. Most of the time it was sophomore second baseman Hayley March scooping up the ground balls and throwing out would-be Tiger baseruners.
"East Noble's pitcher did a great job keeping the ball on the outside corner," said Freds. "We tried scooting up to the plate. She still kept it away from us. We had opportunities. Those were the kids I wanted up at that time. We just didn't get it done. She kept the ball low and outside. That's why there were so many grounders to second base."
Trailing 1-0, the Tigers started the top of the sixth inning with a Rachel Braddock single. Heather Shepherd then advanced Braddock to third base on a bunt attempt that popped up and landed between the pitcher and catcher in front of home plate.
With runners on first and third, Megan Wood popped up for the first out, and then Star Gonzalez ripped a drive and reached on a fielder's choice as Braddock was thrown out at home for the second out.
Senior Mallory Hepler then popped up for the third out.
The Knights, who scored their first run of the game in the third inning, added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning and then retired Warsaw batters Brit Clark, Kelsey Martin and Allison Shephered in order to get the win and advance to tonight's semifinal contest against host Columbia City.
"We just got out hit and they (East Noble) got hits when they needed them," said Freds, whose Tigers finished their season with an 18-8 record.
Carroll and DeKalb play in today's first semifinal contest at 5 p.m., followed by Columbia City and East Noble at 7 p.m. Today's winners play tomorrow for the championship at 7 p.m.
While Warsaw was held to three hits, East Noble pounded out seven hits against Tiger freshman Martin.
Freshman Katie Townsley, batting in the second spot, led the way for the Knights, ripping a double and a triple and scoring the game's first run. Courtesy runner Carmen Smith scored the Knights' second run.
Shepherd, Braddock and Gonzalez accounted for Warsaw's three hits.
Martin took the loss for Warsaw, going six innings and giving up seven hits and two runs. She walked two and struck out six.
For East Noble, who improved to 12-15 on the season, junior Ashley Lash went the distance on the mound for the. She retired the first 10 batters of the game and gave up three hits while striking out three and walking none.
The Tigers graduate seven seniors from this year's team - Courtney Parker, Ashley Rader, Karen Sand, Braddock, Gonzalez, Hepler and Allison Shepherd.
"The girls' attitude is what made this year very enjoyable," said Freds. "There was a big difference to this year from when they were juniors last year. They had a lot more confidence this year."
Warsaw finished with a 9-18 record last year in Freds' first season and ended this season 18-8.
EAST NOBLE 2, WARSAW 0
Warsaw
AB R H RBI
Wood rf 3 0 0 0
Gonzalez dp 3 0 1 0
Hepler lf 3 0 0 0
Clark ss 3 0 0 0
Martin p 3 0 0 0
A. Shepherd c 2 0 0 0
Rader 3b 2 0 0 0
Braddock cf 2 0 1 0
Parker 2b 1 0 0 0
Kiser 1b 0 0 0 0
H. Shepherd 1 0 1 0
Totals 23 0 3 0
East Noble
AB R H RBI
Leonard cf 3 0 1 0
Townsley rf 3 1 2 0
Jones ss 1 0 1 0
Cha. Shadday 3b 3 0 1 1
Yates 1b 3 0 1 0
Miller dp 2 0 0 0
March 2b 2 0 0 0
Hanes c 0 0 0 1
Warrix lf 3 0 0 0
Lash p 0 0 0 0
Che. Shadday pr 0 0 0 0
Smith pr 0 1 0 0
Herriott ph 1 0 1 0
Totals 21 2 7 2
Warsaw (18-8) 000 000 0 - 0 3 0
East Noble (#12-15) 001 001 X - 2 7 0
2B - Townsley. 3B - Townsley. HBP - Hanes
IP H R BB SO
Warsaw
Martin 6 7 2 2 6
East Noble
Lash 7 3 0 0 3
