MISHAWAKA — Bunching six runs in the fourth inning, No. 1-ranked Penn beat No. 9 Carmel 8-4 Saturday, April 6 in a clash of IHSAA Class 4A baseball teams.

The host Kingsmen left the game at Jordan Automotive Field at 3-0 on the 2019 season while the Greyhounds dropped to 2-2.

Senior Hayden Berg drove in four runs and was the winning pitcher for Penn.

“I was looking to put the ball in play,” said Berg of his offensive approach from the No. 2 hole in the lineup. “Pitchers were throwing me outside a little bit so I just had to go with it and go the other
way.”

Making his first mound start of the season, Berg gave up two hits and one run while striking out four and walking two.

The Kingsmen employed four right-handers on the mound — Berg for four innings and junior Camryn Szynski, senior Kegan Hoskins and junior Christian Elswick for one each.

Berg, senior Brock Boynton and junior Kyle Kline produced two hits each while Kline and senior Kameron Koch scored two runs apiece for Penn. 

“We’re putting the ball in play a lot better than in our first game,” said Penn coach Greg Dikos. “So I’m happy about that."

"Our top three guys on the mound (junior left-hander Ryan Lynch, Berg and right-hander Koch) are pretty solid. We need to get our bottom guys some more experience."

 “Lynch has pitched seven innings of no-run ball without a victory. He’s definitely our big guy. Koch is more effective when he’s tired because he changes speeds.”

Senior Jackson Adams drove in two runs, sophomore J.D. Rogers scored two and junior Christian Williams clubbed two of Carmel’s four hits.

The Greyhounds used five pitchers — senior right-hander Zach Vogt for three innings, senior left-hander Drew Kelly for a 1/3 of an inning, junior right-hander Michael Uhrig for 2/3 of an inning, senior
right-hander Cole Lindley for one inning and junior right-hander Alex Brooks for one inning.

“You can’t be as sloppy as we were today and beat good teams like Penn,” said Carmel coach Matt Buczkowski. “We had thrown strikes this year and played pretty good defense. We forgot to pack that on the bus it looked at the end of the game."

“Give Penn credit. They did a really good job with two strikes and getting some big hits going the other way. They’ve got a nice club.”

Buczkowski said his pitchers are on low pitch counts this early in the season and he anticipated using a number of arms Saturday.

“It’s early and we feel like we have a lot of capable arms,” said Buczkowski. “It’s the nature of the beast. You can see guys in the bullpen. You can see guys inside. But you’ve got to go compete.
“We like what we have. We have to do a better job of executing.”

Williams collected a lead-off single to center to open a scoreless Greyhound seventh against Elswick.
The game ended on a double play — third baseman Szynski to second baseman Berg to senior first baseman Jeff Pawlik.

The Kingsmen stranded one runner against reliever Brooks in a score-free sixth. The runner was Boynton, who thumped a two-out single to center.

Carmel left two runners against reliever Hoskins in a scoreless sixth.

Senior Jared Greene and junior Hunter Keip both walked. Greene and junior pinch runner Logan Urbanowski moved to third and second on a double steal.

Hoskins then recorded a strikeout, pop-out and strikeout to to squelch the threat.

Penn produced one run in the fifth against reliever Lindley to push the lead to 8-4.

Koch walked and later scored on a two-out single to center by senior Brendon Denaway.

The Greyhounds turned a double play — second baseman Keip to junior shortstop Dryden Schroeder to senior first baseman Brayden Lentz — for the first two outs.

Carmel scored three runs in the fifth to cut the gap to 7-4.

The inning opened with Szynski relieving Berg on the mound for the Kingsmen.

Senior Drew Olssen walked and later scored on one-out double to left by Williams.

A two-out single to left by Adams plated Rogers (walk) and Williams.

Penn sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs against two pitchers in the fourth.

Kelly relieved starter Vogt to begin the fourth.

Koch reached on a two-base error and went to third base on a fly to right by Szynski.

With the loads bases and one out, Kline smacked a single to left to plate Koch.

Uhrig then spelled Kelly on the mound.

Lynch lashed a single to center to knock in freshman pinch runner Zach David. Sophomore courtesy runner Kyle Riffel also scored on a throwing error on the play.

Berg cracked a 3-1 Uhrig pitch into the right field corner for two-run triple with Kline and Lynch scoring.

Boynton then delivered an infield out that scored Berg with the frame’s sixth run.

Carmel left a runner at third base against Berg in a scoreless fourth.

Brooks reached base on a one-out error, stole second base and moved to third base on a groundout.

Another ground retired the side.

Penn scored one unearned run against Vogt in the third to forge a 1-1 tie. 

Kline smacked a lead-off single to center and moved to second on an error on the play, went to third base on a wild pitch and score on a one-out hot-smash infield single by Berg.

The Greyhounds turned an inning-ending double play to limit the rally.

Second baseman Olssen speared a line drive and threw to first base to double off a runner.

Rogers coaxed a two-out walk from Berg and tallied the game’s first run when Lentz followed by pulling a first-pitch RBI double to right in the Carmel third.

The Greyhounds left runners at first and second.

Pawlik drew a one-out walk against Vogt in a score-free Kingsmen second.

Pawlik was left at first base.

Schroeder led off the Carmel second with a single to right against Berg before the next three hitters were retired with two fly-ball outs and a groundout.

Penn stranded one runner against Vogt in a scoreless first.

Boynton rapped a two-out single to center, but was left at first base.

Berg retired the Greyhounds in order in the first with two strikeouts and a groundout.

Carmel and Penn have games scheduled Monday, April 8.

The Greyhounds go to Hamilton Southeastern and South Bend Riley visits the Kingsmen.

More HS News