Hanover wins PCC title

WASHINGTON TWP — Hanover Central’s 6-5 win over Morgan Township for the Porter County Conference championship played out just the way Wildcats’ coach Doug Nelson planned it: Spot the Cherokees five runs in the first three innings, grind out a run here and a run there to climb back into the lead, and then hand the ball Andy Wellwerts for the save.

“Yeah, sure,” Nelson laughed at the scenario. “It was a fun game and I think it will be good because hopefully down the road it will show we can (play from behind and win).”

Morgan charged out to a 5-1 lead, three runs coming on an opposite field home run by Brandon Murphy in the third inning. Murphy ripped Nic Sampongnano’s first offering over the right center field wall to give the upset-minded Cherokees what appeared to a commanding 5-1 lead.

However, the Wildcats (16-5) never panicked and settled in at the plate to extend counts and look for pitches to drive.

“We talked after the third about staying back and trying to hit fastballs,” Nelson said. “On a day like this, those balls will go.”

Hanover responded with three runs in the fourth to pull within a run, and wrestle the momentum back. Mike Bolich led off the inning reaching on an error, Dan Stum was hit by a pitch next, and Nick Splanger singled in Bolich a few pitches later. Tyler Trepton then roped a liner into the left center field gap that plated Stum and Spangler.

”I went up there knowing I had to get the runners in,” Trepton said. “I was sitting back on the two-strike pitch looking for the curve and got the fastball and got the rally going,” he said.

Hanover added runs in the fifth and sixth to eventually take the lead while staff ace Wellwerts took over for Sampagnano in the sixth. The senior fireballer retired all six batters he faced including three by strikeout.

“We knew (Wellwerts) was coming in regardless of the score,” Morgan Township coach Jason Dorshorst said. “We knew we had to jump on them early and hopefully hold them off, but they’re a good team and we’re not beating ourselves up over this.”

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