South Bend Adams Edges 4A No. 9 Mishawaka

April 17, 2019
Steve Krah
PBR Indiana Correspondent

MISHAWAKA — South Bend Adams brought effective pitching, tight defense and clutch hitting to a Northern Indiana Conference high school baseball game on Monday, April 15.

The Eagles (3-3, 2-1) held off a late charge from IHSAA Class 4A No. 9-ranked Mishawaka (8-2, 2-1) for a 4-3 win on Freddie Fitzsimmons Field at Ward Baker Park.

Sophomore right-hander Bryce Martens kept the Cavemen off the scoreboard until the final inning. He gave up five hits with four strikeouts, two walks and two hit batsmen in the first six.

“He was throwing strikes. That’s all it was,” said Adams coach Mike Cass. “He was coming right at us with the fastball,” said Mishawaka coach John Huemmer of Martens. “He was hitting spots. “We had a number of hard hits that were right at them or they made the plays.”

Adams defenders played errorless behind Martens and were — at times —spectacular.

“Our defense was awesome today,” said Cass. “We’ve been struggling. Eagles hitters produced the first three runs with two outs. The final out scored as a result of the inning’s second out. “They did a good job of putting the bat on the ball,” said Huemmer. “They had three or four balls that fell in because we couldn’t see because of the high sky.”

The Cavemen scored three runs against Martens in the bottom of the seventh.

The final two outs were a groundout and fly-ball out.

Senior Sam Rajski’s two-run double to the fence in center plated junior Derrick Dawson (lead-off walk) and senior Sam Shively (single to center).

A groundout by junior No. 9 hitter Donovan Snyder knocked in senior pinch runner Peyton Robinson (running for Rajski) with the third run.

Adams score one run against junior right-hander Ryan Watt in the seventh for a 4-0 advantage.

Junior Jaccar Watkins doubled to center, moved to second base on a groundout by Zac Gray and scored on Thompson’s groundout.

“He’s been coming on fire,” said Cass of Watkins. “He was 4-for-4 (last week) against Elkhart Memorial. He’s putting the ball in play.”

Mishawaka left a runner at first base against Martens without scoring in the sixth.

With two outs, senior Nick Bodle was hit by a pitch before Martens induced a come-backer to the mound for the third out,

A double play by the Cavemen defense ended a scoreless Eagles sixth.

With Watt on the mound and sophomore Josh Allen on first base following an infield single, Watt struck out the batter and catcher Dawson fired to first baseman Sam Rajski to pick off the runner.

Mishawaka went down 1-2-3 against Martens in a scoreless fifth.

Shortstop Gray jumped to spear a screamer off the bat of Sam Rajski for the first out.

The third out was a diving catch by right fielder Allen to retire Snyder.

After a lead-off double to left by junior Benny Thompson, Watt struck out three straight batters in a score-free Adams fifth.

Martens retired Mishawaka in order in a scoreless fourth with a strikeout, fly-ball out and come-backer.

Watkins’ two-out single to center knocked in junior courtesy runner Tyler Rajski as the Eagles took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth.

Watt relieved right-hander Shively on the mound for the Cavemen after Watkins’ hit and Shively went to play second base.

The inning ended with Shively throwing out Watkins at the plate.

Catcher Dawson applied the tag.

Mishawaka stranded runners at first and third against Martens in a scoreless bottom of the third.

Senior C.J. Fisher led off with an infield single, but was erased at second base on a forceout.

Senior A.J. Rosebush rapped a two-out single to right, but was forced out for the third out.

Adams right fielder Allen took a hit away from senior Grant Jablonski with a diving catch for the second out.

After allowing a runner to reach third base in the Adams third,

Shively ended the rally with two strikeouts.

Thompson led off the inning with a single to left, moved to second base on senior Quenton Atkinson’s sacrifice fly and third base on a wild pitch.

The Cavemen went scoreless against Martens in the bottom of the second.

Two runners were caught stealing. Dawson walked and was pegged out at second by junior catcher Brock Notestine. Shively walked and was tagged out between first and second by Martens, who then collected a strikeout for the third out.

The Eagles tallied a pair of two-out runs against Shively in the top of the second.

Freshman Trey Fonseca reached by error and senior Carson Sult walked.

After a strikeout for the second out, Martens singled to center to plate Fonseca and Watkins singled to center to drive in Martens.

Mishawaka stranded one runner at second base against Martens in a score-free first.

Adams turned a double play for the first two outs — pitcher Martens to shortstop Gray to first baseman Sult.

Bodle was hit by a pitch and stole second before Martens racked up an inning-ending strikeout.

The Eagles left two runners against Shively in the top of a scoreless first.

Gray reached on a two-out error and Thompson followed with single to left. Shively closed out the frame with his second strikeout.

South Bend Riley visits Adams and Mishawaka goes to John Glenn, both
Wednesday, April 17.

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