Pilgrims get in the win column over Wawasee
PLYMOUTH — It took a gutty pitching performance from a sophomore and some timely hitting but Plymouth’s Pilgrims finally got back in the NLC win column beating Wawasee at Bill Nixon Field 5-0.
“You throw strikes and make plays when you have to good things happen,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe. “The errors were nothing that compounded it was a well-played game all around.”
Plymouth starter Nick Manzuk struggled at times with his control walking four and hitting a pair of Wawasee batters but found a way to make big pitch, after big pitch to get out of trouble and take a complete game shut out. Manzuk had runners in scoring position or the bases loaded in every inning but the fourth and sixth but Wawasee could never take advantage of the sophomore righthander.
“He had a couple of innings where his pitch count would get up there but then he’d come back with a five-pitch inning,” said Wolfe. “He didn’t let anything bother him. That was the key for him tonight. He never got flustered out there when they got some guys on and we made some plays behind him.”
“I thought Trey Delp played a great third base tonight,” said Wolfe. “We were a couple of steps away from a couple of double plays. Kaden Milliser made some nice plays in right field on tough balls in the sun. Just a well-played game defensively.”
Milliser’s defense has been on point all season but in the last few games the Plymouth right fielder has begun to swing the bat the way he did a year ago.
For the second night in a row, Milliser put together three solid at-bats that included another two out, two RBI double.
“He’s putting the ball in play and he’s worked a lot,” said Wolfe. “He’s getting in the cage a little more. He was frustrated. Rightfully so. He was swinging through a lot of balls. When he puts the ball in play good things happen and he’s definitely put the ball in play the last two or three games.”
Freshman Ben Shively had a two-hit night for the Pilgrims, and Caleb Bowling had a pair of RBIS. Getting a start at second base Aiden Landis was two for two.
“It’s a nice one to get here for the guys,” said Wolfe. “They haven’t hung their heads, they’ve come out every day to battle and it is hard when things don’t go your way. We have two NLC games left I expect this to carry over to next week for two good ones.”
Plymouth is now 6-15 on the year and 2-10 in the NLC. They will be on the road for the final time this season on Monday at Northwood.
•PLYMOUTH 5, WAWASEE 0 at Bill Nixon Field
Wawasee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-4-2 Plymouth 2 1 0 0 2 0 x 5-9-2
WP — Nick Manzuk (2-3) LP — Kaleb Salazar (0-5). 2B — Ty Brooks (W), Kane
Dukes (W), Kaden Milliser (P).