PLYMOUTH – It was a night for heroics as Plymouth’s Pilgrims lived to fight another day taking an extra inning win over South Bend Washington in opening round sectional action 3-2.
In a tightly fought contest it was senior catcher Elijah Nixon’s double that scored Cam Eveland with the game winner with two outs in the top of the eighth inning. It was Nixon’s second hit off Panther starter Tyler Reece (6-2) who certainly pitched well enough to deserve a better fate, but it would be Plymouth starter Brayden Davidson (4-3) who would win the duel.
“Elijah is the kind of hitter the third time through the lineup that he knows what he’s going to get,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe. “He is a hitter that knows the game of baseball. He hit the first pitch – the guy had started him with off speed stuff early he just put a good swing on it.”
That he did and the Pilgrims would make that run stand up after being unable to do so in regulation. Starter Davidson struck out the first two Panther hitters in the bottom of the seventh holding onto a one run lead, but three straight hits later – from Bryce Mejer, Reece and Cole Opaczewski – and the game was tied. A final strike out by the Plymouth right hander would end the inning.
It was a rare moment in the game for Davidson who had agruably his best outing of the year in the biggest game of the year so far.
“We had a plan on how we were going to pitch some kids and I thought he and Elijah did a good job. He was able to work the count and pitch his game,” said Wolfe. “He struggled early with that change up but as he went on he found it and he’s the kind of kid that I don’t think he has nerves. Nothing really seems to bother him.”
It didn’t seem to bother any of the Pilgrims as they answered immediately after the Washington run to pick up the lead run. It was another night of solid fundamental baseball – doing the little things – that would bring the win, as Cody Gamble came on to close out the win and grab the save.
“We’ve been in all kinds of situations and whatever situation they are put in they are going to execute. Little things this time of years are going to win you ballgames,” said Wolfe. “This team doesn’t let anything affect them if we’re down or up, they know we have a chance to win every ball game we’re in. I knew we were going to battle. It was just a huge win.”
The Pilgrims (16-14) take on Mishawaka Saturday afternoon in the semi-final at Bill Nixon Field.
Linescore
Plymouth 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3-10-1
S.B. Washington 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2-6-1
WP – Davidson. LP – Reece. S – Gamble. 2B – Nixon (P), Stults (P).
