PLYMOUTH – Plymouth’s Pilgrims continue to move forward but fell short of taking home the title in their own invitational on Saturday, fallin in the championship game to Fort Wayne Carroll by a 7-2 final.
Earlier in the day the Pilgrims shut out Western by a 9-0 score. Carroll advanced by shutting out Penn 1-0 and Penn then shut out Western 10-0 in the consolation game.
Carroll 7, Plymouth 2
It appeared the offense would remain on high as Plymouth jumped in front of Carroll by a 2-0 score in their first at bat, but couldn’t hold on, surrendering two of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
That’s the way it would stay until the fourth when Carroll plated two more on starter Cam Eveland who settled in nicely after a tough first three hitters.
“He’s the kind of the guy who takes some time to get loose and I know even after the first inning he went back down to the bullpen and threw some more to get loose,” said Plymouth coach Ryan Wolfe. “Once he settled in he did a nice job, kept the ball down and got some ground balls and did some things very well.”
Carroll starter Riley Perlich did things well after the first inning as well. After the Pilgrims initial explosion he tossed a shut out, allowing just five more base runners in the game and taking a complete game win.
Perlich finally found a way to shut down Justin Drudge – on a three game hitting tear – and held him to just two hits. George Stults stayed hot as well with a pair of hits. Braydon Davidson and Spencer Maecroft had the Plymouth RBI’s.
“That’s the goal to get better every day,” said Wolfe. “That’s the kind of ball club that we’ll have to beat come sectional – the Carroll’s, the Penn’s – that caliber of team. We’re heading in the right direction. We’ve made giant strides at the plate. Confidence levels are at an all time high right now and I’m proud of our kids. We’ve got a busy week coming up and I feel good about where we are.”
Plymouth 9, Western 0
Brandon Milligan went the distance in taking a win over Western in game one of the Plymouth Tournament.
Milligan struck out three and gave up just four hits in tossing the shut out.
The other big story was a 15 hit Plymouth attack at the plate that picked up where it left off on Wednesday at Elkhart. The Pilgrims scored five first inning runs on the way to the win.
“It’s a completely different mentality,” said Plymouth coach Ryan Wolfe. “You’re up there expecting to hit the ball hard instead of hoping to hit the ball hard. The stretch we went through I think the main issue was the confidence. It just took one little spark. It was nothing mechanical – these guys can all hit – hopefully we keep it up.”
Justin Drudge had a three for four game including a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Braydon Davidson had three hits including a first inning double that scored a run. Joe Smith had three hits a pair of RBI’s a stolen base and a run scored. Caleb Mikesell also had a pair of hits.
“We’ve been doing the right things,” said Wolfe. “When you continue to do the right things you’re usualy rewarded. We’re starting to see that now.”
Plymouth now stands at 8-9 and take on NLC foe Warsaw Monday night at Bill Nixon Field.
Plymouth 9, Western 0
Western 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-4-3
Plymouth 5 11 0 1 1 x 9-15-0
WP – Milligan. LP – Weaver. 2B – Hunt (W), Davidson (P), Drudge 2 (P), Davidson 2 (P).
Carroll 7, Plymouth 2
Plymouth 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2-8-2
Carroll 2 0 0 2 0 3 x 7-8-0
WP – Perlich. LP – Eveland. 2B – McKenzie (FWC).
