By Steve Krah
PBR Indiana Correspondent

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SOUTH BEND — Even though his team had a sub-.500 record and the program had not won an IHSAA baseball sectional title in nearly two decades, Mishawaka coach John Huemmer urged his Cavemen to “act like you’ve been there before.” 

His players responded, winning three pressure-packed tournament games on the way to hoisting the hardware. 

“This team has some special stuff as in heart,” Mishawaka junior Ryan Wroblewski said. “We’ve had some close weeks against Clay and LaPorte this week and we never stopped fighting.” 

After edging South Bend Clay 3-2 in nine innings and LaPorte 10-9 in the semifinals, Mishawaka beat Plymouth 5-1 Monday, May 30 in the championship game of the Class 4A South Bend Clay Sectional. 

Those three foes wound up with a combined record of 54-29. 

Mishawaka (13-16) earned the right to play backyard rival Penn (27-4) in the second semifinal of the LaPorte Regional on Saturday, June 4. 

The last sectional title for the Cavemen came in 1997.  

“We finally got one,” 12th-year coach Huemmer said. “This builds our confidence big time.” 

The Pilgrims were seeking their first championship since 2006 (3A). 

Plymouth (19-11) reached base in five of seven innings, but Mishawaka prevailed. 

“We were keeping their hitters off-balance and making sure we were hitting spots,” said Huemmer, who used started senior right-hander Sam Fry (win; 4 2/3 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk) on the mound and went to junior left-hander Lucas Campbell (2 1/3 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 strikeout, 1 walk) with two outs in the fifth inning. “We were making the plays behind the pitcher. Sam threw very well, but we felt like we needed to make that change. 

“(Campbell) throws a little bit harder and he’s got a better curve ball.” 

After going hitless in the first two innings but stranding three runners, Mishawaka broke a scoreless tie with one run in the bottom of the third. 

Junior Luke Shively reached on an error, moved to second base on a wild pitch then to third on a fly-out by Fry. 

Shively scored on a two-out single to left field by freshman Nick Bodle. 

Plymouth turned a triple play in the fourth inning. 

Junior Bryson Stutesman led off with a single to right and was replaced on the bases by freshman pinch-runner Sam Shively. 

Senior Sam Eggleston followed with an infield single and was spelled by freshman pinch-runner Grant Jablonski. 

A line drive off the bat of Campbell was snagged by senior first baseman Braydon Davidson, who stepped on the bag to double off Sam Shively and then fired to freshman shortstop Cam Dennie to triple off Jablonski. 

“You can’t fault the runners,” Huemmer said. “They were caught in no-man’s land.” 

Plymouth tied the game at 1-1 with one run in the fifth inning. 

Senior Caleb Mikesell reached on a one-out fielder’s choice and scored on a double to right by Dennie. Fry was then relieved by Campbell. 

“It was a game of momentum swings,” Plymouth coach Ryan Wolfe said. “We tied it up and they were able to get the momentum back late in the game.” 

Mishawaka plated three more runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead. 

Junior Joe Howe led off with a walk and Luke Shively singled to left. After they stole third and second, respectively, Wroblewski lashed a two-run triple to right and scored himself on the play on a Plymouth over-throw to third. 

“That was huge,” Huemmer said. “We took advantage of the double steal there and then ‘Wrobo’ was able to hit the shot to right-center and score on the error.” 

Right-hander Mikesell (2 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 1 strikeout, 0 walks) then relieved senior left-hander Jeremy Splix (loss; 4 innings, 4 runs, 5 hits, 1 strikeout, 4 walks) and retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a single to left by Bodle.  

Pilgrims junior catcher Dyllon Pavey then threw out Bodle tying to score to end the inning. 

Mishawaka scored one run in the sixth inning. 

Senior Ashten Williams lashed a one-out single and later scored on a two-out infield single by Luke Shively. 

A defensive gem was turned in by Pilgrims sophomore left fielder Jeremy Drudge with a diving catch to take a hit away from Howe. 

Plymouth wound up leaving two runners each in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings. 

“We got guys in scoring position, but just couldn’t get that hit,” Wolfe said. “It’s not how many you get, but when you get them. We just couldn’t get them tonight when we needed them early. (Not) getting that big hit was key.”