Jimtown High School

By Red Williams, freelance sports writer MISHAWAKA – As Hawk Harrelson used to say, “Those lead-off walks are killers.” That axiom was fully realized Wednesday afternoon at Jimtown’s Jimmies fell to Penn’s Kingsmen in high school baseball. Jimtown coach Todd Cook probably was muttering the same. The game was played in 80-degree heat at Jordan Automotive Group Field, Penn’s home. The Kingsmen’s R.J. Carmartie worked lead-off walks off Jimmie starter Mason Armstrong in innings 2 and 4 that sparked five runs, and Penn went on to a 14-4 victory. The Jimmies were hoping to be a spoiler in this Northern Indiana Conference, as Penn is battling for the title at 8-1, in a virtual tie with South Bend Adams. Jimtown is now 14-7 overall and 5-4 in the league. Penn is 17-7. Despite falling behind 5-1, the Jimmies tacked on three runs in the sixth and had the tying run at the plate when Penn moundsman Chris Pelletier (3-3) coaxed Jimtown catcher Jackson Arbogast into a pop-up to third to quench the two-out rally. The Kingsmen put up a huge crooked number in their half of the sixth, sending 12 batters to the plate and notching eight runs. “I was proud of the way our guys battled back,” Cook said. “We were down but able to bounce back. I think we grew in that moment.” Penn head coach Greg Dikos was thankful the way his Kingsmen took advantage of Jimtown’s miscues. “We have not been able to do that,” he said. “We need to capitalize.” He said he was impressed with Jimtown’s hitting and defense. Penn takes a few days off before traveling to New Prairie on Monday. He hopes the prom on the weekend doesn’t cause a let-up. Armstrong and Brodric Kaler each had a pair of hits for the Jimmies and Connor Christman smashed a triple in that uprising in the sixth. There’s no break for Jimtown, playing host to neighborhood rival Northwood on Thursday.