CHESTERTON | Zach Plesac made big pitches when he had to in Times No. 4 Crown Point's 3-2 win over No. 9 Chesterton Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs junior got himself out of game-threatening jams in the fifth and seventh innings to preserve the Duneland Conference victory.
"I felt good. I felt like I could hold them if the team scored," Plesac said.
After allowing a bunt and an error to cut the lead to 3-2 in the seventh, Plesac struck out pinch hitter Aery Pratt to end the game.
Plesac said he struggled hitting his usual velocity.
"You're not gonna throw your vest every time you go out and you've just got to learn to cope with what you have," Plesac said. "You have to pitch through what you have that day."
"This is the probably the least effective his stuff has been (all season)," Crown Point coach Steve Strayer said. "But he pitched well. Hitting locations, making big pitches in tough situations, I thought he did a very good job."
Chesterton (10-8, 5-5) had runners on first and third with two outs in the fifth. The Trojans were unable to score, however, as Plesac struck out Austin VanderZanden.
"It's our old nemesis. We haven't been scoring runs," Trojans coach Jack Campbell said.
Chesterton got a solid effort from it's hurler, Bobby Humphreys, as well. The senior allowed three runs over seven innings.
"(Humphreys) threw great. He deserved a better fate," Campbell said.
C.P. (18-4, 8-3) threatened in the fourth with runners on second and third and two outs. Alex Nickla's hit up the middle was stopped by Trojan shortstop Kevin Jones before reaching the outfield, saving a run. Humphreys got the next batter, Jake Jenks, to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
"I think it took us a little longer than I'd like to start competing," Strayer said. "I liked our approach in the later innings, but the only thing we've got to do is get some of those runners in."
But the Bulldogs pushed one across in the next frame. Jake Carey scored on Brett Bayer's sacrifice fly to center field for the first run of the game.
Crown Point scored a run in each of the final two innings, as well.
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