SOUTH BEND – A masterful performance by senior pitcher Braydon Davidson put Plymouth’s Pilgrims into a second straight sectional final with a win over South Bend Riley 6-1.
“He took it on his back and carried us,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe. “We wanted to see how the game went, he’s battled all year for us and when he’s on the mound we have a good chance to win.
“He’s on a mission. He wants to win this thing and move on. He’s been a great leader for us not just on the mound but in general. When he was getting the ball I didn’t have a lot of worry as long as we could get some runs we had a good chance of coming out on top. He doesn’t want to quit playing baseball.”
The Pilgrims jumped ahead early loading the bases on singles by Cam Dennie and Braydon Davidson and a walk to Spencer Mae-Croft. Dennie plated the first run on a wild pitch but Riley starter Zack Overton recovered to strike out the next two hitters without any further damage being done.
The Pilgrims had a big threat again in the second inning on Overton when Nate Nixon walked, Benji Nixon singled and a walk to Caleb Mikesell loaded the bases again. Dennie then doubled but only Nate Nixon scored as Benji Nixon was thrown out at the plate.
Overton again recovered to get Davidson to ground out to end the inning.
“I thought the first couple innings we had a chance to put them away with a couple crooked numbers early but they made some plays and we had some miscues and he (Overton) really settled down there in the middle innings,” said Wolfe. “We were able to get a couple late to push it out but they were never out of this ball game.”
Caleb Mikesell hit a solo homer in the fourth and Plymouth scored again in the fifth when Pavey singled in Colten Schuler – running for the pitcher Davidson who had singled. An error on pinch hitter Ezra Winkle’s grounder led to the final two Plymouth tallies of the game in the seventh.
The Wildcats could manage just one unearned run on Davidson in the second as a throwing error allowed Ricky Davila to cross the plate.
Davidson ended the game with seven strike outs and surrendered just four hits while walking just one hitter.
Mishawaka won their semi-final game with LaPorte setting up a match with the Pilgrims (19-10). With number two starting pitcher Cam Eveland out indefinitely with an ankle injury it leaves Wolfe with a big decision on who takes the ball in the final.
“That’s why we have a day in between playing I guess,” said Wolfe. “We can go with Jeremy (Splix) we could come back with Caleb (Mikesell) we could throw Cam Dennie a little bit or (Jeremy) Drudge.
“We want somebody out there who’s confident and wants the ball and we have a lot of those guys. We’re not going to wait until ten minutes before game time, we’ll make a decision to give somebody to mentally prepare for what’s coming up. We’ll try to figure it out today (Saturday) and whoever it is will be ready.”
Linescore
Plymouth 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 6-8-4
Riley 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1-3-2
WP – Davidson (9-2). LP – Overton. HR – Mikesell (P), Davila ( R ), Dennie (P).
