Concord Cruises Past Warsaw
DUNLAP – Concord softball coach Dawn Austin had one simple goal Monday night versus Warsaw.
It had nothing to do with the fact that the pair of Northern Lakes Conference foes will meet again in one week in postseason play.
“My goal tonight was still all about the NLC,” said Austin. “I wanted us to win and still have a shot at that. I wanted us to stay in it as far as the conference goes.”
Austin got her wish in a big, big way.
The host Minutemen stayed on a roll by rolling past the Tigers 12-1 in five innings.
Concord, which opened a lot of eyes by beating No. 5 Northridge 3-1 on May 12 to snap a long league winning streak for the Raiders, stayed hot.
The Minutemen, who will meet Warsaw again on May 26 in a semifinal game of the Class 4-A Elkhart Central Sectional, improves to 18-7 overall and 11-2 in the NLC, just one game behind the Raiders.
Warsaw, which has lost its last four, falls to 6-15 overall and 5-7 in league play.
Stellar hurler Rae Ann Miller allowed just one hit over the first four innings with 10 strikeouts. The junior did walk three Tiger hitters, all in the fourth inning, but got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in that frame by allowing just one run.
Miller, who two-hit the Raiders on May 12, struck out two in the first and second innings and three more in both the third and fourth frames. Sophomore Kiley Austin retired Warsaw 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth to complete the contest.
“Rae Ann has been on an upswing and has gotten stronger for us as the season has gone along,” Austin said. “The more she throws, the better she gets. It’s a matter of confidence.
“She’s just a great kid too. I really didn’t want her to throw a lot tonight so Warsaw would get looks at her, but like I said I wanted to win this game in terms of the conference.”
Concord, which won at Warsaw 11-5 on May 2, wasted no time Monday. The hosts plated three runs in the first inning as senior Jenny Miller ripped an RBI triple and cleanup hitter Rae Ann Miller smacked an RBI double. The third run scored on a Warsaw error.
The Minutemen scored single runs in the second and third frames to make it 5-0. Sophomore McKenzie Loge and junior Lillie Schiavone each had RBI singles.
Warsaw had a chance to get back in the game in the fourth. Kara Dishman and Ashley Ousley drew walks to open the frame before Karly Jones dropped a single into right center to load the bases with no outs. Dishman raced home later on a wild pitch to make it 5-1. Concord’s Miller then got three strikeouts, with a walk thrown in, to end the threat.
“A hit there and we could have got back in it, but we didn’t get the key hit we needed,” said Warsaw coach Jim Speicher of the one opportunity his team had off Miller. “You just can’t do that against good teams. That’s been the story of our season.”
Concord put the game away with seven runs in the fourth. Senior Olivia Hess smacked an RBI double and Rae Ann Miller, senior Sabrina Scherer and Austin all had RBI singles. Loge, who had three hits and six RBI in the win at Warsaw earlier this month, started the inning with a triple.
“We did a good job hitting pitches in the zone tonight,” said Austin, whose team piled up 14 hits in the dominating win.
Senior Whitney Sleeth took the loss, working the first 3 1/3 innings.
“Miller is spinning it well for them right now,” remarked Speicher. “I thought Whitney threw all right for us.”
Warsaw ace Kaleigh Speicher was not able to pitch or bat Monday. The senior, who hit a grand slam home run in the first meeting with Concord, suffered a deep thumb bruise on her left hand versus Plymouth last week. The injury was aggravated on Saturday in the Tiger Tournament.
Coach Speicher said that his daughter is questionable to return the rest of the season.
Warsaw hosts NorthWood Tuesday in NLC action. The Tigers then play at Elkhart Memorial Thursday, at Tippecanoe Valley Friday and host South Bend St. Joseph for a doubleheader Saturday.
Concord completes NLC play by hosting Wawasee Wednesday. The Minutemen then host St. Joseph on Friday.