By Steve Krah

PBR Indiana Correspondent

DUNLAP — First South Bend Adams helped Concord celebrate Armed Forces Day. 

Then the visiting Eagles stacked 12 hits — nine singles — in beating the Minutemen 12-1 in non-conference high school baseball action on Saturday, May 6. 

Military veterans and a few active service members were recognized prior to the contest.  

As part of the second annual event, players from both teams stretched out a giant field flag in the infield while military trucks were parked in the outfield. 

A tank and an artillery gun traded blank shots. 

There was a flyover prior to first pitch and a hog roast for teams and veterans following the last pitch. 

Adams (9-10) did not touch too many pitches in the first inning, but collected four hits and six runs in the second frame and was ahead 9-0 when Concord (4-14) got its lone run in the fourth. 

The Eagles tallied three more runs on five hits in the top of the seventh inning. 

“We’ve been hitting well most of the season,” Adams coach Mike Cass said. “I preach all the time, ‘Hit the fastball. It’s a first-pitch fastball 90 percent of the time — hit it; get after it.’” 

Leading the Adams attack were senior Matt Foulks, Angel Vargas, Cooper Lee and Zach Gray. 

Foulks, the No. 3 hitter in the Eagles order, went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in. He smacked a three-run double to right field in the second inning, lofted a sacrifice fly to left in the third, smacked a double to center in the sixth and walked in the seventh. 

Vargas enjoyed a 3-for-4 game with a bunt single in the second inning, double to right in the third and single to center int he seventh. 

Lee went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in (single to center in the third inning and two-run single to left in the seventh). 

Gray’s 2-for-3 day at the plate featured an RBI single to left in the second inning and a single to center in the seventh. 

Gray, Spencer Nelson and Timmy Huppenthal scored two runs apiece for Adams. 

Jake Diver collected two of Concord’s six hits — a second-inning single to left and a RBI double to left in the fourth (plating Alejandro Heredia after his two-out double to center). 

Brandon Maynard socked a double to left for the Minutemen in the seventh. 

Adams used three right-handed pitchers — Quentin Atkinson (3 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts), Carson Sult (2 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 2 walks, 1 strikeout) and Thompson (2 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts).

“We got ourselves in counts where we had to throw fastballs,” Concord coach Eric Nielsen said. “They capitalized on that.” 

The four Minutemen hurlers were right-hander Luke Schrock (1 1/3 innings, 6 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts), left-hander Drew McDougle (2/3 innings, 2 runs, 1 hit, 3 walks, 0 strikeouts), right-hander Tyler Castillo (3 innings, 1 run, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts) and right-hander Caleb Whitaker (2 innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts). 

Adams was a part of Armed Forces Day in 2016 and the school has agreed to come to Concord each year to be a part of festivities. 

Cass reflected on significance of the event. 

“It means a lot for America,” Cass said. “Our kids don’t understand what our services do for us. These veterans out here are huge for what we’re able to do. We want to be involved with anything like that.” 

Nielsen also talked about the military salute he has been planning since last fall. 

“I’m not happy that we lost, but this day wasn’t about us,” Nielsen said. “This day was about the veterans and paying respect to people who have given the ultimate sacrifice. I’m just thankful that everything went as planned and smooth and, hopefully, they enjoyed it as much as I did.” 

The Minutemen visit Northridge Monday, May 8. The Eagles go to South Bend Washington Wednesday, May 10.