The Slicer baseball team used a big first inning, power hitting and the strong arm of sophomore Cody Ryden to take down Plymouth 10-3 Saturday in Plymouth.
La Porte jumped on Pilgrim starter Caleb Bowling for six runs in the top of the first inning. Ben Dubbs and Carter Moses drew walks to start the game. Kade Flores smashed a line drive to right field that was snared by a leaping Kaden Milliser for the first out. Cleanup man RJ Anglin then crushed the first pitch over the left field wall for a three-run homer giving LP a 3-0 lead. Tommy Samuelson flew out Milliser for the second out before Jax Land and Kai Jones were clipped by pitches. Ryan Bruemmer lined a single to left scoring Land. The left fielder bobbled the ball allowing Jones to advance to third and Bruemmer to second. Drew Catron then drove a triple to the base of the fence to drive in two giving the Slicers a 6-0 advantage before taking the field.
Cody Ryden got the start on the mound, his first since an April 6th win over Portage due to illness. The talented sophomore showed no signs of rust. He retired the first eight hitters and eighteen of the twenty he faced. He struck out three, gave up two singles, allowed no walks or hit batters in an impressive six inning stint. The only solidly hit ball he allowed was two out single up the middle with two outs in the third. The other Plymouth runner he allowed was a well place infield hit in the fifth.
The Slicers scored in each of the odd numbered innings. After the six spot in the first inning LP picked up a single run in the third on a Bruemmer single, stolen base and RBI single by Catron. It was 7-0 after three innings.
Samuelson doubled to lead off the fifth. He moved to third on Land’s line drive single to left and scored on a wild pitch making it 8-0 after five.
La Porte added two more in the top of the seventh. After Samuelson scorched a line drive that was snagged by first baseman Matt Manzuk for the first out, Land drew a walk. Up stepped Keli Hay, who promptly launched a two run homer over the left center field fence making it 10-0 LP heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Jones came into pitch the seventh. Cam Shively dumped a single into left. The next two hitters popped out to second. DH Boston Berkeypile drew a walk and Milliser dropped a single into left to load the bases. Jones walked Ethan Hall forcing in Plymouth’s first run. A ground ball by Trey Hall was bobbled by Catron and the rushed throw sailed past Samuelson at first allowing two unearned runs to score. Kade Flores took over on the mound, threw one pitch getting Trey Delp to pop up to right field and the Slicers had a 10-3 win.
Ryden was named the Salisbury and Stence Edward Jones Player of the Game for his outstanding mound work. Offensively Anglin was 2-4 with a three run homer. Catron went 2-3 with a triple, single and 3 RBI. Bruemmer was 1-2 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Land scored twice and was 1-2. Hay smashed a two runner homer in his only plate appearance.
The win moves LP to 9-5 on the season. The Slicers will host Chesterton at Schreiber Field Tuesday and visit the Trojans Wednesday. Both games scheduled for 4:30. New Prairie will visit Friday night for a 7:00 start. As always you can hear all of the action on WCOE 96.7 the Eagle.
