Pilgrims split with Crown Point, McCutcheon

PLYMOUTH — A long day of baseball ended in a split for Plymouth’s Pilgrims as they went to Crown Point to take on the hosts and McCutcheon in a three team double header. The Pilgrims were able to come from behind in the first to grab a win over host Crown Point 6-4 but couldn’t outscore McCutcheon in a marathon game two falling 4-3 in nine.

Plymouth 6,  Crown Point 4

A big two-run double by Cole Filson against 11th ranked Crown Point was the difference in game one for the Pilgrims. Filson performed his heroics in the top of the sixth the provide the Pilgrims with enough to take a win.

Tim Tremaine had a rocky start but survived a three-run first to notch the win, going six innings scattering nine hits and allowing just one run in the next five innings. Tremaine gave up just two hits after the second.

“Timmy had a great game,” said Plymouth coach Ryan Wolfe. “He struggled early but he fought through it and really gave us five great innings. We went to Chuy (Jesus Luva) to finish it but it looked like the Timmy we had early in the year.”

Tremaine was the beneficiary of some outstanding defensive plays during the day as well.

“(Jeremy) Drudge made some great plays in center and Benji (Nixon) made some great plays at short,” said Wolfe. “Our defense has been solid all year and they were again today.”

“I think (Tremaine) was a little tired because of how much we had to use him early but now that he’s had some rest I think he’s back where he was. It’s good to have him back there as an option as we go into sectional week. Our kids voted him the game MVP and he deserved that.”

McCutcheon 4, Plymouth 3

A pitchers battle for five innings, it became a game of who hits last as sixth-ranked McCutcheon out dueled the Pilgrims with a run in the bottom of the ninth.

Scoreless through five Plymouth starter Jesus Luva gave up just one hit in four and two thirds innings of work giving way to Thomas Dolan who had an inning of scoreless relief. The tough luck loser was Jacob Deacon who gave up two earned runs in his two and two thirds innings.

“We had our opportunities to win it,” said Wolfe. “These are the types of games you play against these type of teams.”

“Chuy was outstanding out there and we felt we had to take him out, he finished the game before but he fought to stay in there,” said Wolfe. “Our defense was outstanding again in this game. It has been all year.”

The Pilgrims got run in in the sixth on a single by Nixon who scored from first on Cam Dennie’s double. In the seventh Deacon singled, stole second and scored on Matt Dobuck’s single.

In the eighth, back to back doubles by Dennie and Noah Pesak gave the Pilgrims a chance. But they couldn’t hold serve in the ninth as McCutcheon plated the winner.

“We’re playing good baseball and that’s what you want as you head into sectional week,” said Wolfe. “Since we lost at Warsaw really you’ve seen it the last half of the conference season. It’s a testament to getting people healthy and having young players that got a lot of game experience while they were getting healthy.”

Plymouth (16-10) has one final regular season game Monday night against Knox at Bill Nixon Field.

•PLYMOUTH 6, CROWN POINT 4

at Crown Point

Plymouth 0 0 1  0 1 4  0  6-5-2

Crown Point  3 1 0  0 0 0  0  4-9-1

WP - Tim Tremaine. LP - Andrew Loewe. 2B - Cole Filson.

•McCUTCHEON 4, PLYMOUTH 3

at Crown Point

Plymouth 0 0 0  0 0 1  1 1 0  3-8-2

McCutcheon  0 0 0  0 0 0  2 1 1  4-6-0

WP - Henning. LP - Deacon. 2B - Dennie 2 (P), Deacon (P).