Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw had the future on its mind against Columbia City Saturday in a baseball doubleheader at Tiger Field.
Not only are the Eagles a possible opponent come sectional time next month, but the Tigers were looking even beyond that when freshman left-hander Craig Lankford took to the mound for his first varsity start in game one.
Lankford's performance was more than respectable in the early going, but he began to tire, and the Eagles came away with a 7-2 win.
Lankford allowed eight hits in five innings, struck out five and walked four batters in his start against a talented Columbia City team.
"I am very pleased with Lankford's outing," Warsaw coach Will Shepherd said. "At times, he struggled a little, but for a freshman he kept his composure real good."
But with Lankford, Shepherd is definitely looking further down the road.
"For me to throw a freshman like Craig against a real good team and rival like Columbia City, I wanted to send a message to everybody that I think this kid can play, right now," Shepherd said. "I don't think it is two or three years down the road. He is learning every day, he is getting more comfortable, and he will be more aggressive.
"I am sending a message, including people in Columbia City, people in this town and every one in our conference, that they are going to have to watch Lankford from the left side for four years," he said. "And I wanted to send a message to Craig that I have the utmost confidence in him."
Warsaw earned the split with a 5-4 win in the second contest as Sam Niccum scored on an error in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 4-4 tie.
Against the Eagles, the young Tigers were looking to set the tone for another possible matchup against Columbia City in the sectional. It was Warsaw who rallied from six runs down in the seventh inning to tie the score and eventually won the game with three runs in the ninth in the sectional semifinals against Columbia City.
In the first game, the Tigers faced the same pitcher who took the loss in the sectional game in Josh Monesmith. But this time, the Eagle right-hander was more than up to the challenge, allowing four hits and two unearned runs against the Tigers.
"I knew the Monesmith kid is a good athlete in a lot of different sports," Shepherd said. "He came out and attacked like you are supposed to do. We were tentative the first time through the order. That was disappointing because I wanted our guys to attack because I knew he wouldn't walk us."
Columbia City led 2-0 heading into the fourth inning when the Eagles clinched the game with a three-run frame on two hits, two walks and a Tiger error.
"We let them get out and take control of the game, and that is our fault because this our field, and we should not let them do that," Shepherd said.
Shepherd watched as his Tigers jumped on Columbia City early in game two, scoring twice in the first inning when Pat Riley opened things up with a double, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Kloser and scored on a wild pitch by Eagle starter Ryan Conley.
Craig Thomas made it 2-0 when he crushed a solo home run to right centerfield. After a Columbia City run in the second inning, it eventually became 4-1 as Warsaw got single runs in the second and third innings.
The Eagles tied the score with two runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth.
In the sixth, Niccum reached base on an error by Eagle shortstop Eric Niec and went to second on the errant throw. He went to third on a wild pitch, and scored when the throw to get Niccum at third got away and went into leftfield.
"I want to see more competitive spirit, and I just want to see more solid play," Shepherd had said after game one. "In every area against a possible sectional opponent, I want to see us improve in the second game. We are going to get off to a better start, and hopefully the kids will compete."
Shepherd got his wish with the competitive spirit, but the Tiger defense committed five errors, four in the second inning.
"From the first game until now, we have taken strides in every area," Shepherd said. "The kids still have to understand that with our schedule maybe that is going to be good enough on some days. They have to every day compete and everyday, raise their game."
Riley led the Tiger offense with two doubles, while Thomas added a single to his homer. Evan Miller also had two hits.
Warsaw (3-4) is at Wawasee today in the Northern Lakes Conference opener for both teams.
