ELKHART – Much like Warsaw’s varsity baseball team, tears fell at Elkhart Memorial High Monday evening. Following a 2-1 loss to the Concord Minutemen in a Class 4A sectional final at Charger Field, Warsaw’s players were visibly emotional. They had reason to be. Not only did eight Tigers see their prep careers come to an end, they had every opportunity to extend the season with the program’s first sectional title since 2010. Instead, Warsaw left nine runners on base, including a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the sixth inning, and failed to take advantage of four innings of no-hit baseball by junior pitcher Tyler LaFollette. “We just couldn’t get anything going in the sixth inning,” said Warsaw coach Mike Hepler, whose team finished the season with an 11-16 record after losing 12 of its final 15 games. “We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities. “There were so many things that could have gone either way,” added Hepler. “We just couldn’t catch a break.” Warsaw, which out-hit Concord 7-4, opened the game with a double by senior Justin Oberlin, who scored two batters later on classmate Caleb Heckaman’s single. The Minutemen, who improved to 15-15 on the season and advanced to Saturday’s LaPorte Regional to play Lake Central, tied the game in the bottom of the first inning and then scored what turned out to be the game-winner in the second. Concord, which won its first sectional title since 2009, got two hits in the first inning and two in the second. LaFollette then held the Minutemen hitless for the next four innings, making the loss hurt more. “It’s bizarre,” said Hepler. “Who would’ve thought it would be a 2-1 game with Concord with the wind blowing out? We just didn’t play consistent, winning baseball. That’s why our record is what it is.” In six innings on the mound, LaFollette gave up four hits and just two walks, while striking out three. “Tyler settled in nice,” said Hepler. “He’s a competitor. I tip my hat to Tyler for the way he pitched tonight.” Jake Vernon had a triple for Concord, while Brenden Curry ripped a double and Nick Defreese and Brett Austin hit singles. Curry was responsible for getting the Minutemen out of the sixth-inning jam. After Defreese, Concord’s starting pitcher, put Caleb Moneyheffer and LaFollette on base with an error and a walk, Curry walked senior Brandon Shipp to load the bases. Curry then struck out sophomore Sterling Hay, got senior Dean Katris to ground into a fielder’s choice and then struck out sophomore Marselo Rodriguez. Defreese was credited with the win after working five innings, giving up six hits, one run and three walks, while striking out four. Curry gave up one hit and one walk, while striking out three in two innings on the mound. “Concord is a good team,” said Hepler. “Defreese and Curry threw well for them, and we couldn’t get anything going after the first inning.” Junior Ethyn Bradley led the Tigers at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance. Warsaw’s other four hits came from Oberlin, Heckaman, Moneyheffer and Hay. Oberlin’s leadoff double was the only extra-base hit for the Tigers, who split with Concord in the regular season.
