On most days, nine runs and 13 hits would be enough offense for Warsaw’s varsity baseball team to come away with a win. Tuesday, though, just wasn’t most days, as the Tigers fell 12-9 to the visiting NorthWood Panthers in a Northern Lakes Conference battle that featured 21 runs, 27 hits and six home runs. With powerful wind gusts – and at times rain – Mother Nature certainly flexed her muscle, and it helped batters from both teams flex theirs. Senior Caleb Heckaman hit a pair of two-run homers for the Tigers, while junior Tyler Lafollette hit a two-run blast of his own and senior James Brandes added a solo shot. Senior Will Kirkwood launched a pair of homers for NorthWood, including a three-run bomb that gave the Panthers an 11-6 lead in the fifth inning. “The wind was a factor today,” said Warsaw coach Mike Hepler, whose team fell to 6-4 overall and 3-1 in NLC play. “You still have to put the bat on the ball and get it up there, but the wind helped. “NorthWood is a good hitting team, and our pitchers struggled with location today,” added Hepler. “We fought back. We just couldn’t get anything going in the last couple innings.” The majority of the Panthers’ offense came in two innings, as they plated six in the third and four in the fifth. Trailing 11-6 after Kirkwood’s three-run homer, the Tigers scored three two-out runs in the bottom of the fifth when Heckaman hit a two-run blast, followed by Brandes’ solo shot. Kirkwood pushed his team’s advantage to 12-9 with a solo homer in the seventh. Heckaman started the home half of the seventh with a single, but Brandes then grounded into a double play and senior Peter Shepherd struck out to end the game. Heckaman and senior Brandon Shipp had three hits each for the Tigers. Lafollette, Shepherd and Shipp each had a double for Warsaw. Heckaman finished the contest with four RBIs. “We played well enough to win, things just didn’t go our way,” said Hepler. “The wind was tough, and then at times you had rain blowing in your face. Things were tough today. If you put nine runs on the board you should win. On a normal day, nine runs and 13 hits is enough.” Kirkwood and fellow senior Hunter Lane had three hits each for NorthWood. Kirkwood finished with five RBIs. Warsaw is in action again today when it hosts NLC foe Northridge at 5 p.m. NorthWood plays at Elkhart County rival Jimtown Thursday.
