Game 1

Warsaw, IN – Warsaw jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Saturday in game one against Kokomo. They put up two runs in the bottom of the second and added two more in the third.  After leading off the third with a strikeout and a runner reaching on an error,  Austin Moore (Marion commit) hit a ground rule double to right field setting up second and third with one out. Kyle Morris (2012) would then hit a ground ball to the right side bringing in the first run of the inning. With two outs Austin Franzen (2012) doubled to right bringing home Moore to give Warsaw the 4-0 advantage.

In the fourth, Kokomo was finally able to get to Warsaw starting pitcher Kyle Gibbs (2012.  Luke Alexander (2012) started the inning off with a single to left and Chase Hatfield (2013) followed that with a ball up the middle, setting up runners at first and second.  Preston Emmons (2013) then singled to center scoring both runs.  Later in the inning Drew Sawyer (2012) doubled to left center bringing home Emmons to cut the lead to 4-3.

Warsaw was able to get one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning when Lemler got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and then advanced  to third on a sacrifice bunt. After the next two batters reached on a HBP and walk to load the bases Kokomo brought in Hatfield to replace starting pitcher Drew Sawyer. Hatfield allowed a sacrifice fly to Brad Ousley (Grace commit) that brought in one run and got the next batter out to keep the deficit at 5-3. Hatfield did not allow a run over his next two innings of work.

Garret Grunewald (Illinois Valley commit) replaced Gibbs for Warsaw in the fifth and worked two innings, allowing just two base runners to reach without giving up a run. Franzen, sitting in the low 80s, came in to close out the game allowing one batter to reach on an error and striking out three to seal the win.

Final – Warsaw 5 Kokomo 3 

Game 2

Game two saw LHP Austin Moore for Warsaw and RHP Parker Sanburn (2013) squaring off.   Moore sat in the high 70s and topped out at 80 showing good movement on his fastball along with a late breaking curveball. Sanburn sat 81-84 topping out 86.

Warsaw again jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. In the first Shay Hepler reached base with a one out single to left field. Brad Ousley singled on a ball deflected by Sanburn and Moore singled to left to load the bases. Austin Franzen would draw the bases load walk bringing home the first run. Peyton Balazs lined out to first, and Franzen was doubled up to end the inning. In the second Garrett Grunewald reached on a walk to lead off the inning and eventually came around to score after two wild pitches.

In the 6^th Kokomo’s offense was able to get to Moore. Drew Sawyer led off the inning with a double to right field and Chase Hatfield then laid down a great bunt. On Hatfield’s bunt he beat the throw, but the throw was over the first baseman’s head and Sawyer was able to score. Eli Grimes (2013) then sacrificed Hatfield to second base. After the following batter got out,  Channing Webster (2012) doubled to score Hatfield, chasing Moore from the game. Brock Anson (2012) came in to get the final out of the inning.

With the score tied at two runs a piece in the sixth, Warsaw scored three times. Austin Franzen led off the inning with a single to left center and was pinch ran for by Josh Frantz (2013). After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Kokomo pitcher Jacob McMain (2013) appeared to be on his way out of the inning, but a two out error by the shortstop allowed Frantz to score from second. Anson then laid a perfect bunt down the third base line to put two runners on with two outs. Again Kokomo’s defense hurt them, an error by the second baseman allowed two runs to score putting Warsaw up 5-2 after six innings.

In the top of the 7^th Franzen came in for his second save of the day. Franzen struck out the first batter, but the next batter walked, and that was followed up by an error on a double play ball to the second baseman. Franzen got the next batter out, but allowed an RBI single to Hatfield. Grimes walked after that to load the bases with two outs.  With the game on the line, Franzen settled in and struck out the last batter to end the game.

Final – Warsaw 5 Kokomo 3