SYRACUSE —
NorthWood’s young baseball team came within one game of a Class 3A sectional championship on Monday, but the Panthers came up just short, falling to Tippecanoe Valley in the championship game of the Wawasee Sectional, 7-2.
The Panthers (21-9) advanced to the title tilt earlier Monday with a 7-1 win over Lakeland.
Tippy Valley, meanwhile, dispatched West Noble, 9-2 to set up the sectional title clash with NorthWood.
In the championship game, the Panthers ran into a hot pitcher in Tippy Valley’s James Hackworth. The Viking senior improved to 6-0 on the year, surrendering just three hits to the Panthers, just one earned run and striking out 15.
Hackworth said Panther coach Ryan Moore came to him in the seventh inning and wanted to send another pitcher out to finish the game.
That didn’t agree with Hackworth.
“I told him I wanted the ball,” Hackworth said.
Moore said he didn’t hesitate to let his senior ace finish what he started.
“Our guys came out here intent on winning a championship,” Moore said. “We backed that up with our bats and our gloves.”
Hackworth said his curveball was iffy on Monday night, but he was getting good movement on his fastball and changeup, which enabled him to keep NorthWood hitters off balance and guessing.
The Vikings (16-9) scored once in the top of the first, then broke it open with four runs in the top of the fourth.
There were just not that many opportunities for the Panthers, who drew just one base on balls to go with their three hits.
With Tippy Valley up 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Panthers were able to come to life briefly and avert the shutout.
Tanner Roberts reached on an error, and Brock Spitaels singled, sending Roberts to third.
Chad Ervin plated both runners with a double.
NorthWood coach Zach Benko said Tippy Valley was the better team Monday night. “We didn’t have very good at-bats against their pitcher,” Benko said.
Benko hopes the younger Panther players use the loss as an object lesson and motivator for next season.
The Panthers can find some positives in a 21-win season with such a young team, Benko added.
In the earier victory over Lakeland, the Panthers got a complete-game victory from Roberts, who scattered three hits and gave up just one run, fanning six. Will Kirkwood was 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs; Hunter lane was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
The Panthers lose just three seniors: Nathan Wagner, Roberts and Ryan Gerber.
Class 3A Wawasee Sectional
Semifinal
NorthWood 7, Lakeland 1
NorthWood 000 004 3 — 7-6-0
Lakeland 000 001 0 — 1-3-0
Pitching: (NorthWood) Tanner Roberts (W), six strikeouts, two walks. (Lakeland) William Kelly (L), six strikeouts, one walk; Alex Pearson, no strikeouts, no walks.
Hitting: (NorthWood) Will Kirkwood 1-for-3, double, three RBIs; Hunter Lane was 2-for-3 with an RBI. (Lakeland) William Kelly 2-for-3, Hunter Same 1-for-2, run scored.
Championship
Tippecanoe Valley 7, NorthWood 2
Tippy Valley 104 011 0 — 7-12-1
NorthWood 000 002 0 — 2-3-0
Pitching: (Tippy Valley) James Hackworth (W), 15 strikeouts, one walk. (NorthWood) Tommy Klem (L), no strikeouts, four walks; Tanner Roberts, one strikeout, one walk.
Hitting: (Tippy Valley) Hackworth 2-for-2, home run; Brody Andrews, 2-for-2, run scored; Kameron Larimer 2-for-4, run scored, three RBIs. (NorthWood) Roberts 1-for-3, run scored; Chad Ervin 1-for-3, double, two RBIs.
Sports
Related Photos
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NorthWood's Blake Cleveland scoots back to first base safely as Tippecanoe Valley first baseman Kameron Larimer awaits the throw Monday night in the championship game of the Class 3A Wawasee Sectional. The Vikings defeated the Panthers, 7-2. DAVID VANTRESS
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