PLYMOUTH – A two run third would be all Mishawaka would need to take a win over Plymouth for their second straight sectional title by a final of 3-0.
It became a game of who could capitalize on opportunities, as Mishawaka could only mount two real scoring threats against Plymouth starter Jesus Luva who, while not overpowering, kept the Cavemen off balance and off of the bases for most of the game. Three straight singles in the third resulted in just two runs as Luva walked one in — his only walk of the game — and gave up a sacrifice fly.
Mishawaka added an insurance run in the fifth when a two out double, followed by an error pushed an insurance run across the plate. Luva would give up just six hits in the game and strike out four.
“They have a good ball club and I knew we’d have to play really well and I think we did,” said Plymouth coach Ryan Wolfe. “I thought Chuy (Jesus Luva) pitched great but I knew we’d have to score early. I thought that would be the key to the game and we had some opportunities but we just couldn’t push any runs across there.”
Mishawaka starter Sam Shively seemed uncomfortable almost from the beginning, loading the bases in the first before slickly extricating himself from the jam with a big strikeout. In the third a single and hit batter along with an error helped load the bases again. Again Shively got out of it with a pop up and grounder back to the mound.
Shively gave way to reliever Ryan Watt who was perfect in three innings to take the save.
“You have to take advantage of opportunities when you get them against a good team. I thought we were ready to play,” said Wolfe. “We (Shively) made a couple of good pitches there to get us. I couldn’t ask more of my kids. We played great Saturday and again today but we just couldn’t come up with a win.”
“The hardest part is seeing how much time and effort these guys have given me over the past four years, and it’s never easy you know there’s going to be a final game at some point you just hope it’s the one down in Indy,” said Wolfe. “I couldn’t have asked for more from these guys in the last four years. They’ve left a lot for the next bunch to come up and play on Bill Nixon Field.”
•MISHAWAKA 3, PLYMOUTH 0
at Bill Nixon Field
Plymouth 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-3-2
Mishawaka 0 0 2 0 1 0 x 3-6-3
WP — Shively. LP — Luva. S — Watt. 2B — Rosebush (M).
