Warriors Stunned By Knights
SYRACUSE – Wawasee had the defending champs on the ropes, but couldn’t close the deal.
Leading 7-4 heading into the seventh inning Friday night at home, Wawasee gave up eight runs in the top of the frame in an eventual 12-8 loss to the 3-A No. 2 Norwell Knights, the 2013 Class 3-A state champions.
In a game that featured 25 hits, Norwell slugged its way back into the game after allowing Wawasee to score at least a run in five of the seven innings. Wawasee had 10 of those hits, with Gage Reinhard leading the way with three knocks, scoring three runs and driving in a run. Bailey Hershberger had two hits and four RBIs and Andrew Milligan added two hits, a run and one driven in.
Milligan was on his way to a win, working 5.2 innings, giving up four earned runs and striking out five.
Wawasee (3-2) will head into Northern Lakes Conference play Monday with a game at county rival Warsaw at 5 p.m.
The JV team took on East Noble in Kendallville and also found themselves in a slugfest. Needing three runs in the seventh, Wawasee held on for a 20-19 merry-go-round win over the Knights from Kendallville.
Chase Rookstool was the offensive hero for Wawasee, going five-for-five with two doubles and a triple. Brock Spangle added a solo homer for the Warriors.
Wawasee scored seven runs in the third and five more in the fourth, but needed to score eight runs in the final three innings after East Noble plated 11 runs in the fifth inning.
Wawasee (2-0) will get back at it Monday with a game against Warsaw.