LaPorte stays on top of DAC with 5-3 win over Bulldogs

A USA-365.com Special Report by Frank Sprankle

5-04-2017

The LaPorte Slicers and the Crown Point Bulldogs line-up for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner before the Slicers went on to defeat the Bulldogs 5-3 on May 3, 2017 at Crown Point High School. (Photo by Frank Sprankle)

Team (Record) / Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
LaPORTE (15-4, 8-2 DAC)	0	0	3	2	0	0	0	5	4	2
CROWN POINT (10-6, 7-3 DAC)	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	5	3

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - Cloudy, 55-degrees, 4:45 p.m. start in CROWN POINT, IN

WP-Chandler Banic: 4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 K, 2 BB
LP-Dillon Farinelli: 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 K, 3 BB

LaPorte Slicers (15-4, 8-2 in DAC)
Caleb Rettinger (SS) 1-3, single, walk, run
Peyton Riehle (2B) 1-2, single, SAC Bunt, walk, 2 RBIs
Andy Samuelson (RF/1B) 0-2, walk, reached on error, run
Jon Williams (P) 0-0, reached on two errors
Noah Mathias (RF) 0-2
Will Malekovic (C) 0-3, RBI
Nolan Lorenz (CF) 0-3
Chandler Banic (1B/P) 1-3, single, run
Thomas Pope (3B) 0-1, SAC Bunt
Gabe Silfa-Brens (PH) 0-1
Jose ochoa (LF) 1-2, single, walk, 2 runs

Crown Point Bulldogs (10-6, 7-3 in DAC)
Jake DeFires (SS) 0-3, walk, RBI
Scott Ferkull (DH) 2-3, 2 singles, reached on error, 2 RBIs
Josh Lindeman (2B) 0-3, walk
Luke Adams (CF) 0-3
Rocci Beebe (LF) 0-3
Ben Fridrich (1B) 1-2, double, reached on error, run
Mason Boyd (C) 0-2, hit by pitch, stolen base, run
Charlie Patrick (RF) 0-1
Brandon Haczynski (PH) 1-2, single
Will Kulcher (3B) 1-2, single, run, SAC Bunt

CROWN POINT (05-03-2017) Heading into Wednesday, the race for tops in the Duneland Athletic Conference, featured a three-team race. Two of those teams, would meet in the second time in 24 hours in the LaPorte Slicers and Crown Point Bulldogs.

After having played at LaPorte High School the day before, the Slicers got the upper hand after scoring five runs combined between the third and fourth innings. The Bulldogs threatened a comeback with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but came-up short in a 5-3 win for the Slicers.

The win for LaPorte came one day after Crown Point picked-up a 4-0 shutout in the Slicers own ballpark.

The Slicers got their first two runs in the third when starting pitcher Jon Williams hit a ball down the third base line. Bulldogs third baseman Will Kulcher attempted to gun out LaPorte’s Jose Ochoa at the plate, instead threw the ball passed the catcher, allowing two runs to score.

For Williams, the senior right-hander left the game in the third after feeling discomfort. He struck out five Crown Point batters.

LaPorte then got two more runs when senior Peyton Riehle singled back up the middle, scoring Chandler Banic and Ochoa.

The rally for the Bulldogs fell short in the seventh, as junior Scott Ferkull had a two-run single to left, part of a three-run inning.

The game ended when Bulldogs sophomore Josh Lindeman hit a fly ball to Slicers Nolan Lorenz center fielder. Lorenz would make the catch and then deliver a strike to cut down Crown Point junior Jake DeFries at third for a game ending double play.

With the win, LaPorte became tied with Valparaiso for the top spot in the DAC race. LaPorte improved their season record to 15-4 (8-2 DAC), while Crown Point fell to 10-6 on the season (7-3 DAC).