The Redlegs got back on track in a night game out at Athletes in Action Sunday, besting the Thunder by a final tally of 13-4. Branden Heinemen got his 1st MVABL start and kept the Thunder off balance through 5 innings on the way to the first victory of his career.
Branden was able to work out of two early jams in the 1st and 2nd innings. The Thunder had 2 on and 1 out in the first inning but Heinemen was able to get out of it by notching a strikeout and pop out back to back. The Redlegs threatened in the top of the 2nd inning but left the bases loaded when top draft pick Jacob Hendrick was able to get a strikeout to end the inning.
A scary moment occurred in the home half of the 2nd. Thunder catcher Evan Koogler was hit by a pitch to start the inning and quickly ended up at 3rd after a stolen base and a passed ball. Heinemen then got a strikeout, followed by a pop up to shallow left that looked like it might fall into no man’s land. Short stop Jacob Robinson and Left Fielder Kyle Arend converged on the ball at the same time, and Kyle slid to avoid a last second collision. The result was Robinson toppling over Arend just as he made the catch, but Arend suffered a knee injury on the play and had to come out of the game. Heinemen notched another strikeout to end the threat and get out of the inning unscathed, but the loss of Arend looked like it may take the sails out of an offense that only managed 1 run the previous week. But the Redlegs rallied, putting 4 runs on the board in the top of the 3rd inning. Campbell led the inning off with a walk, one of three on the day, and moved to third when Jacob Robinson doubled. Brandon Longacre came off the bench to replace Arend and promptly drove Campbell in with a single, his first of 4 runs batted in on the day. Howard then walked to load the bases. Justin McCurdy then drove in a run with a ground ball fielder’s choice. James Robinson then laced a sharp line drive that was snagged at 3rd base on a one hop, and the Thunder were able to induce a rundown between 3rd and home to get the 2nd out of the inning. After Jack Millard was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Steve Benthal hit a ball to left field that was misplayed and allowed 2 more runs to score.
AJ Boshinski relieved Hendrick in the 4th for the Thunder and made his presence known right away, striking out the side. The Thunder offense threatened again in the bottom of the 4th, getting runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out. John Connell then hit a grounder that got passed Longacre at 1st base, but Redleg Second Baseman Brandon Howard was able to track it down and deliver a perfect throw to Heinemen who made a nice snag and tapped the base just quick enough to end the inning. The Thunder were finally able to get to Heinemen in the 5th, putting 4 runs on the board capped off by a towering homerun off the bat of Ryan Callison to tie the game.
The Redlegs were finally able to get to Boshinski and break up the tie in the top half of the 6th. Mattice led the inning off with a single. Matt Morrison then stepped in for his first MVABL at bat and turned in an 8 pitch at bat that led to a walk. After a strikeout, Jacob Robinson drove Mattice in on a sharp line drive to right field to give the Redlegs a 5-4 lead. Brandon Longacre then hit a popup to short left field that was hauled in by the Thunder Short Stop, but Morrison alertly tagged up and was able to score. Brandon Howard ended the innings scoring with an RBI single that scored Robinson to give the Redlegs a 7-4 edge.
The Redlegs put things out of reach in the top of the 7th. James Robinson led the inning off with a double that landed just shy of the left field fence, and moved up to 3rd as the Thunder outfield had some trouble getting the ball back in. Millard then walked to put runners on the corners. Branden Heinemen came on to hit and drove Robinson in on a ground ball fielder’s choice. Matt Redman then doubled in Heinemen. After Matt Mattice reached on an error, Matt Morrison drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Campbell and Robinson then each walked before Longacre drove both in with a single.
Don Parrish came on in relief of Heinemen in the 6th and turned in 2 perfect innings for the save. He allowed no hits and punched out 3 Thunder hitters along the way.
Boxscore
| K Campbell | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| J Robinson | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| K Arend | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B Howard | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| J McCurdy | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| J Robinson | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| J Millard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| S Benthal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| M Redman | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| M Mattice | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| B Longacre | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| M Morrison | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| B Heinemen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2B: Robinson; McCurdy; Robinson; Redman
| B Heinemen (W) | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| D Parrish (S) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
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