Pilgrims’ late rally not enough in loss to Warsaw
PLYMOUTH — Another late rally was just too little too late as Plymouth’s Pilgrims dropped an NLC decision at home to rival Warsaw by a 9-8 final.
The sloppy weather turned what started as a pitchers’ duel into a fight for life. Plymouth took a 2-1 lead into the fifth behind Preston Wolfe’s four strikeout, two hit performance when the rain changed everything.
A pair of errors led to two unearned runs in that inning to give the Tigers the lead. Four more Plymouth errors would give the Tigers more opportunities and they took advantage for two runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh.
“They never quit they are always right there,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe of his squad. “Minus a few games this year, we have been in every ballgame. You can give up four and come in the dugout and sulk or you can say let’s have good at bat after good at bat and that’s what we did. We gave ourselves a shot.”
“It’s one of those games where the kids drive home and think ‘If I only would have done this’ or ‘If I had only made that play’ and we could say that about any loss that we have,” he said. “These are harder when you lose by one and out hit them nine to six and the six (errors) up on the board but we battled to the end and gave ourselves a shot.”
Plymouth put up three in the sixth to tie the score headed to the seventh but Warsaw plated four leaving the Pilgrims behind the eight ball at 9-5.
“We talk about body language and it screams,” said Wolfe. “We talk about that. Whatever happens flush it and go on to the next play. That’s hard to do as a high school kid, it’s hard for humans in general to be able to do that and move on especially when you know the next ball is likely coming your way.”
“All the credit belongs to the kids for just hanging in there and battling,” he said. “I know the elements are the same for both teams but there were times when I was thinking ‘Let’s get out of this and let them go out there and pitch in this.’ But it was two good ball clubs, an NLC battle, a rivalry and they got the best of us today.”
After the Warsaw four spot in the seventh, Plymouth came to the plate and did their best to change the outcome plating three on a pair of doubles one by Matt Manzuk and another by Trey Delp but it wouldn’t be enough as Warsaw right fielder Jette Woodward made a big running catch on the right field line of Trey Hall’s double attempt to end the game.
Once again it was six Plymouth errors that changed the game.
“I think maybe we need some reps,” said Wolfe. “That’s what happens when you play game after game and then the weather makes you practice inside and you can’t do a lot defensively inside. As we move guys around from place to place it might be communication, like some of our relays. You don’t get to practice and just to reset so (Tuesday night practice) will be good for us.”
Tonight will be the only practice night as the Pilgrims have games Wednesday against Goshen and Thursday against New Prairie and then on the road Friday at Wawasee.
“We aren’t out of anything,” said Wolfe. “We just have to keep fighting. We continue to get better and that’s the thing. Our eyes are on playing our best ball on that Saturday before Memorial Day. One thing our guys have always done is compete and we are going to continue to do that.”
Plymouth drops to 10-11 overall and 5-5 in the NLC. They play at Bill Nixon Field on Wednesday against Goshen.
at Bill Nixon Field
Warsaw 0 0 0 1 2 2 4 9-6-1
Plymouth 0 1 1 0 0 3 3 8-9-6
WP – Showley (5-0). LP – Shively (0-2). 3B – Reihl (W). 2B – Reihl (W), Manzuk (P), Delp (P), Berkeypile (P).