Late surge pushes Slicers past Plymouth
PLYMOUTH Plymouth’s Pilgrims made a run but some key errors down the stretch gave Laporte the opening they needed to come from behind to take a 3-1 win over Plymouth to advance to the sectional final
A couple of errors matched with three hits including a two-run double from Ryan Bruemmer and a clutch two-out RBI single by Ben Dubbs - gave the Slicers the push they needed to grab a win.
“With a ball club as good as them you just can’t make any mistakes,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe. “A couple of errors at the wrong time cost us but our guys fought and other than the one inning played well.”
Plymouth starter Matt Manzuk had his best outing of the season breezing through the first four innings allowing just two hits and three total baserunners up to the fifth.
“He was outstanding today,” said Wolfe of his starter. “He’s really been outstanding all year. He’s
such a competitor and he did everything we wanted from him.”
Preston Wolfe came on to strike out two in a scoreless sixth but Plymouth couldn’t get the offense going against Laporte starter
Cody Ryden. The Slicer junior right-hander struggled a bit with his curveball early but a leadoff walk in the third to Ryan Jolly in the third and an RBI double by Cam Shively were the only runs Plymouth could push across.
The Pilgrims made a run in the seventh with a leadoff single to Jolly bringing the tying run to the plate but Plymouth couldn’t move him any further.
Ryden allowed just six hits, struck out eight, and issued just two walks to Plymouth batters in a complete game win.
Plymouth senior Cam Shively led the Plymouth offense with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Ryan Jolly was aboard three straight times including a pair of hits and scored the Plymouth run.
Boston Berkeypile and Trey Delp had the other Plymouth hits.
The loss ends Plymouth’s season at 14-15 for seniors Koan Deon, Trey Hall, Noble Bockman, Shively, Manzuk, and Berkeypile.
“They are a great bunch, a fun bunch to be around,” said Wolfe of the class of ‘23. “They never quit, they fought to the end and never gave up. You couldn’t ask for more from them and we will have some big shoes to fill.”
•LAPORTE 3, PLYMOUTH 1 at Bill Nixon Field Plymouth 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1-6-2 Laporte 0 0 0 0 3 0 x 3-5-3 WP - Ryden. LP - Manzuk. 2B Shively 2 (P), Bruemmer (L).