2011 Varsity Baseball Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . photo provided by Stutzman Studio

Due to the rain canceling a Thursday night hosting of Class 2A third ranked Van Buren, the Maroon and Black took the field Friday night for the first time in six days to host 3A Washington.  Previously unbeaten Sophomore hurler Cameron Gingerich started on the mound for IMS but quickly saw a run pop up on the newly refurbished scoreboard as the second hitter for Washington Josh Moore hit a homerun over the right field fence to give the Demons the early 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, IMS came out swinging, when Senior Ethan Gingerich reached on an error.  This was followed by back-to-back hard singles from Jackson Brokaw and Riley Hochstedler to load the bases for Cameron Gingerich and only one out.  Despite a six pitch battle to Gingerich, Washington’s pitcher got Cameron to line a shot directly into the hands of the Demons right-fielder for the second out.  Washington’s pitcher would end the threat getting Marshall Schrock to ground out in fielder’s choice to 2nd base.

Washington would add two more runs in the second inning and another run in the fourth to increase their lead 4-0.  Another run for the Demons would punch through in the top half of the six inning which looked like more than enough to secure a victory over the off-balanced bats from IMS.  In the bottom half of the sixth, IMS did get their one lone run and encouragement from Senior Marshall Schrock when he connected on a 1-1 fastball to rise over the right-field fence for a solo-homerun, his first of the season.  Washington would add two more runs and complete the 7-1 victory striking out two of the three batters they faced in the seventh.  

IMS moves to 4-3 on the season and next takes on Mediapolis in a SEISC conference double-header on Tuesday night at IMS.