CROWN POINT — Jon Williams started LaPorte’s fourth inning against Michigan City by getting hit by a pitch.
He’d get another crack at doing some damage later in the inning. And he came through with an RBI double.
Williams finished with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored as the Slicers defeated the Wolves 13-1 in a five-inning game as part of the Class 4A Crown Point Sectional.
“I was just looking to attack first-pitch strikes,” he said. “Just seeing a fastball and hitting it.”
LaPorte (24-6) sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs in the fourth inning.
“We just put the ball in play,” said coach Scott Upp, who picked up the 400th win of his career. “The guys did a good job of keeping their hands back and hitting the ball wherever it was pitched.”
Travis Upp added two doubles and two RBIs as the Slicers advanced to face Valparaiso in a semifinal at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
The Vikings took advantage of five Portage errors to beat the Indians 8-6 in Wednesday’s first game.
Four of the errors occurred during Valparaiso’s five-run second inning. Evan Wall and Tyler Ellrich each had one RBI in the inning. Wall and Ryan Wexelberg finished with two RBIs for the Vikings (15-9).
“We always say put the ball in play and good things happen,” Valparaiso coach Todd Evans said. “In that case, we put a little pressure on them to make plays. A couple of hard-hit balls, a couple of weird bounces and that can happen to anybody. That’s just the game of baseball.”
Alfonso Casaday allowed two earned runs in six innings for the victory. He gave up six hits and struck out six.
“That’s all you could ask for from a senior starter in a sectional,” Evans said.
Casaday also singled twice. Wall and John Healy both scored twice. Healy scored on a sacrifice fly by Wall in the fifth inning to give the Vikings a 7-3 lead. Sam Miller doubled and scored on a single by Wexelberg in the sixth inning to make it 8-3.
Portage fought back with three runs in the seventh to make it close. Cody Simmons knocked in one run with a double. Kody McGuire drove in two more with a single. Simmons, Hunter Thorn and Jacob Dickson each had two hit for the Indians (11-17).
“I’m proud of the fact that we fought back,” Tim Pirowski said. “We’re a young team and we’re learning on the fly.”
LaPorte’s Jake Teets limited Michigan City to two hits in the second game. Teets struck out nine batters, including the final six of the game.
“I bet you he was 75 percent strike one,” Scott Upp said. “That’s the most important pitch.”
Teets received plenty of offensive support. Cameren Watt had two hits and two RBIs. He also scored twice. Juan Frias-Silfa singled twice and drove in one run.
Marty Komay and Nathan Shepherd singled for Michigan City (9-19)
“A lot of kids did a nice job this year,” Michigan City coach Josh Malone said. “It’s a foundation to build off for the years to come.”
Twitter: @lamondpope
