Sports
Warriors Throw a New Lenox Fireworks Party
Lincoln-Way West sends 13 batters to the plate and scores nine runs in the fourth inning of a 14-5 victory over Lincoln-Way Central.
It all started with a whimper. Tyler Kopp flew out to right field to begin the top of the fourth inning.
Momentum had even swung in the direction of Lincoln-Way Central after the Knights had scored three runs in the third inning to rally back from a 4-1 deficit.
But then Travis Wysong (3-for-3) singled. Luke Andrade (3-for-4) followed with an RBI triple and then scored on leadoff man Dan Fifer's single.
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Many believe hitting is contagious.
"After one kid gets that hit to start the inning, it trickles down and everyone gets that confidence," Fifer said. "You see the kid before you getting a hit and then everyone just follows after that."
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The next three hitters in the lineup didn't hit at all for the Warriors, but all reached base via walks with the final one to John Keefe bringing another run home.
"We talk about two-strike hitting and two-out hits and it's all about approach and confidence with what you're doing," Lincoln-Way West coach Jake Zajc said. "It went our way today, but tomorrow you have to have the same approach or things can go bad in hurry. Each day, you have to keep producing."
Luke Morgan cleared the bases with a three-run triple and then Kopp smacked a run-scoring single, Wysong doubled home a run and Andrade brought home the ninth and final run of the inning with a single.
Wysong and Andrade both had two hits in the inning.
"Everyone had a good game at the plate," Fifer said. "We all just thought, '(Go) the other way.' I couldn't ask for any more from the team. We swung the bats great today."
The Warriors had seven hits in the inning and three walks. Each batter in the starting lineup scored in the inning except for No. 9 hitter Nick Andrade, who made two outs in the inning.
"Not since the weather has gotten better have we had a day where up-and-down the lineup guys have had good at-bats and driven the ball," Zajc said. "It was nice to see some guys who have struggled, but continued to work hard, produce. It's contagious. One guy did it and the others seemed to follow."
