MIDDLEBURY, IN A three-run sixth inning fueled a big Plymouth comeback as the Pilgrims beat Middlebury 6-4, keeping the young 12U team in the hunt for the Boys of Summer conference title.
The Pilgrims drew first blood in the top of the third. Trey Jordan started the inning with a laser-double to center field. After Jordan took third on a wild pitch, Trey Delp calmly laced a clutch RBI-single putting Plymouth up 1-0.
The Muddogs battled back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, flipping the score in their favor 3-1.
Caleb Bowling led the top of the fifth off with a ringing double. After a Jak Chaney single, Malachi Sieh added another rope-RBI single, plating Bowling. Not to be outdone, Lucas Wenzel of Middlebury crushed a 3-0 fastball over the leftfield fence. The fifth frame ended with Middlebury up 4-2.
The Pilgrims got back at it in the top of the sixth. Three straight walks loaded the bases for Ryan Gadziola, who doubled down the third base line, scoring two and leaving runners at second and third. Shortly after, Chaney would promptly steal home on a wild pitch. Plymouth completed their comeback, ending the inning up 5-4.
When asked about the importance of Gadziola’s at-bat, head coach Nick Chaney said, “his two-out double in the fifth was an absolute must have at-bat. It’s so great to see one of our leaders come up with a big hit.”
Tre Jordan would tack on the sixth Plymouth run with an RBI single in the seventh, cementing a Pilgrim win, 6-4. Jordan would lead the attack going 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI. Gadziola, Delp and Sieh all went 1-for-2 with RBIs.
The Pilgrim hurlers also had very nice outings. Ryan Gadziola started the game for Pilgrims. He gave up zero runs on two hits, while striking out five batters. Preston Wolfe entered in relief, finishing the game tossing four innings, striking out eight.
“Gadziola was sharp both on the mound and at the plate,” added Chaney. “Actually, both pitchers were really sharp working both sides of plate. Wolfe got hit around in the fourth but showed a lot of grit and battled for four innings against a really good lineup.”
The Plymouth 12U, sponsored by Emergency Forklift Services, move to 5-2 on the season. The Pilgrims are back at it again, at home on Wednesday night when they take on Wawasee.
“This was a great win against a physically imposing team, “ concluded Chaney. “Middlebury can beat you by just intimidation with their size but our kids didn’t let that come into play. It was very much the opposite as we took it as a challenge and had competitive at-bats each and every inning. We haven’t seen that consistency this year.”
PLYMOUTH 6, Middlebury 4
at Middlebury
Plymouth 0 0 1 0 1 3 1 6-10-1
Middlebury 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 4-11-1
WP – Wolfe (1-1). LP – Roth (M). HR – Wenzel (M). 2B – Bowling, Gadziola, Jordan, Aldrich (M), Frey (M), Overholt (M).
