Carmack and Eaton Brilliant as Redlegs Get Needed Sweep
The Redlegs (8-11) ended their 5-game skid with a much needed double header sweep of the Dodgers (13-5) on Sunday at Brookville High School. This is the team’s first win since they hit their 200th franchise victory back on July 9th vs. the Stars.
Camden controlled the first game from the very start, scoring four times in the top of the first and adding two more in the top of the 2nd. Jacob Robinson and Tyler Schrock started the game with back-to-back singles, later followed by a one-out RBI single by Ben Schooler. Tyler Eaton then knocked in a run with a base it, followed by a single from Evan Koogler to load the bases. Matt Mattice then worked an RBI walk to plate the 3rd run of the frame. James Robinson then capped off the four run first with an RBI base hit.
Tyler Schrock doubled with one out in the top of the 2nd followed by a base hit by Max Ramsey. Ben Schooler then knocked home another run with a sacrifice fly and later Ramsey scored thanks to an errant Dodger throw in the infield.
Six runs would prove to be plenty of cushion for Redlegs great Aaron Carmack who made his 2023 season debut on the mound. Carmack showed no signs of rust as he allowed just one baserunner (walk) through the first 3 frames and didn’t give up his first base hit until the 4th. The Dodgers were finally able to break through on Carmack in the 6th, scoring twice, but he thwarted any further damage by ending the inning with two runners on with his 9th strikeout of the game. He then closed the game quietly with a 1-2-3 7th inning, notching his first win of the season.
Game two would prove to be a different experience altogether, containing enough excitement for two games all on its own. This time the Dodgers jumped ahead early, plating three runs in the bottom of the 1st. After the first run scored the Dodgers had runners on 1st and 2nd when a base hit produced the 2nd run of the inning. Redlegs left fielder Matt Mattice was able to erase a baserunner on the play by quickly pouncing and delivering a strike to Tyler Schrock who in turn cut down the runner at 3rd base for the 2nd out of the inning. Another Dodger hit put runners on 2nd and 3rd before the next batter singled into center field. The first runner scored, but center fielder Jacob Robinson was able to deliver a strike to catcher Max Ramsey who was promptly leveled by the oncoming baserunner. Ramsey held onto the ball for the 3rd out, the Dodgers runner was ejected, and play continued after a brief pause.
The 3-0 lead for the Dodgers would stand until the 5th inning when Camden finally broke through with two runs. Tyler Eaton and Joey Watson each singled to start the frame, and Eaton was promptly driven in by an RBI base hit by Matt Mattice. James Robinson then delivered a sacrifice fly to score Watson.
Eaton and Watson then teamed up again to start the top of the 7th. Eaton doubled, and promptly scored on a base hit by Watson to tie the game at 3 heading into the bottom of the 7th.
Tyler Eaton wasn’t just coming up big with the bat, but absolutely dealing on the mound as well. After giving up 3 to the Dodgers in the first frame, he blanked the Dodgers over the next 6 innings allowing just 3 hits while striking out 6. The defense pitched in for their starter, committing 0 errors during the game. James Robinson made a spectacular diving play at 1st to end the bottom of the 5th, diving to his left on a ball hit sharply down the line almost landing directly on 1st base. In the bottom of the 7th with two outs, the Dodgers got a runner aboard who attempted to steal 2nd base. The throw found it’s way to the outfield and the runner attempted to move to 3rd, but Jacob Robinson was able to notch his 2nd outfield assist delivering a strike to Ben Schooler who applied the tag to end the inning.
Moving on to extra innings, it looked like the Redlegs would wrap things up in the top of the 8th when Tyler Schrock launched a two-run blast over the centerfield fence to give the Redlegs their first lead of the game. The Dodgers would respond in the bottom half. After a groundout to 3rd, the Dodgers used two doubles surrounding a hit by pitch to score two runs and tie the game. With one out and the go-ahead runner on 2nd, Camden turned to Ben Schooler to attempt to get out of the jam. The first batter singled, putting runners on 1st and 3rd. The next pitch got past catcher Max Ramsey and the Dodgers runner broke for home. Ramsey was able to quickly collect the ball at the backstop and deliver a perfect throw to the waiting Schooler to apply the tag, saving the game. Schooler then struck out the next batter to end the threat.
Schooler then led off the top of the 9th with a single and was replaced on the basepath by courtesy runner Justin Lynch. Lynch swiped 2nd, moved to third on another hit by Tyler Eaton, and then scored on fielder’s choice off the bat of Joey Watson.
Schooler then recorded 3 straight strikeouts to end the game in the bottom of the 9th.