NorthWood Sports Wrap: April 20
Baseball
The NorthWood baseball team turned out to have a grand old time.
The Panthers hit a pair of grand slam homers in the 10th inning to turn back host Wawasee 9-3 in Northern Lakes Conference play in Syracuse.
The duo of Jaden Miller and Kyler Hauptil each connected for four-run blasts in the final frame to lift the Panthers.
The game was scoreless until the 8th. Brock Miller gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead with an RBI single before Wawasee plated an unearned run in the home half to tie the contest.
Matt Dutkowski notched the win for NorthWood. He went the first nine innings, allowing just three hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Jacob Garcia had three hits and Kameron Salazar two RBI for the Warriors.
Blake Norris took the pitching loss, despite a fine effort. He went nine innings with nine strikeouts and one walk.
NorthWood improves to 6-1 overall and moves to 2-0 in the NLC. Wawasee drops to 3-4 and 1-1.
Wawasee hosts its own invitational Saturday. NorthWood plays at Warsaw Monday evening.
Softball
The NorthWood softball team rallied to edge Wawasee 8-7 in eight innings in a Northern Lakes Conference game.
The Warriors built an early 4-0 lead on the host Panthers before NorthWood came back. The hosts took a 6-4 lead after six innings before Wawasee plated a pair in the seventh to force extra innings. The Warriors scored one in the top of the eighth before the Panthers tallied two in the home half for the win.
Madison Miller notched the pitching win. She threw the final four innings and had eight strikeouts. Gracie Clark went the first four innings for the Panthers.
Clark and Kylie Thornton each had two hits and two RBI for the winners. Alexis Klotz also had two hits.
Olivia Stuck led the Warriors with three hits. The trio of Aubrey Kuhn, Amanda Jenkins and Delaney Hare each had two hits.
Beth Flannery took the pitching loss in relief for Wawasee.
The Panthers sit at 6-2 overall and 1-1 in league play. Wawasee falls to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the NLC.
NorthWood won the JV game 21-16.
Wawasee hosts its own invitational Saturday. NorthWood hosts Warsaw in NLC action Monday night.
Girls Tennis
Powered by its doubles lineup, the NorthWood girls tennis team collected its first win of the season.
The Panthers picked up a 4-1 win over host Jimtown in non-conference action.
The No. 1 doubles duo of Kennedy Wiens and Betsy Nunemaker led the way. The senior pair posted a 6-0, 6-1 win for the Panthers.
The team of Alex Jesse and Riley Graber notched a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles.
Reegan Miller and Lauren Mikel were singles winners for NorthWood. Miller won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 and Mikel posted a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (11-9) victory on the No. 3 court.
Jim town’s point came at No. 2 singles as Taylor Konrath outlasted Gretchen Adams 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5).
NorthWood, now 1-3 on the season, plays in the New Prairie Invitational Saturday.