The Redlegs and Rangers met up for the 3rd time this season on Sunday, this time under the lights at Rice Field in Miamisburg. This edition of the “Backyard Battle” would prove to be the most exciting in recent memory as a tough back and forth contest came right down to the final inning.

Runs were hard to come by for both squads as a pitcher’s duel quickly emerged between Redlegs rookie Aaron Carmack and Rangers lefty Matt Delbridge. The Rangers drew first blood in the 2nd inning when Steve Marshall doubled in a run with a line drive down the right field line. Marshall would then attempt to score from 2nd base on a single from Joe Becker but was cut down at the plate by Redlegs center fielder Jacob Robinson.

The Redlegs knotted things up in the 2nd when Jacob Robinson legged out a 1 out infield single, stole 2nd, and was driven in by Kyle Arend. Arend continues his impressive season as he leads the MVABL in a variety of stat categories including hits, runs, RBI, and doubles.

Two more runs in the 4th gave the Redlegs a 3-1 lead. Matt Mattice started the inning with a single, stole 2nd, and scored on a base hit by Jared Bradley. Bradley would later score on a sacrifice fly from Eric Williams.

The Rangers inched closer in the 6th when Todd Peck doubled and later scored on a wild pitch. Peck would then make two impressive basket catches in left field in the 7th that prevented the Redlegs from tacking 2 more runs on the board. The first on a short pop fly that he raced in and caught behind 3rd base, and the 2nd a fly ball that Jackson Millard drove to deep left that Peck somehow managed to catch over his shoulder while avoiding crashing into the fence.

The Redlegs still held the 3-2 advantage going into the bottom of the 8th, but the Rangers were able to scrape 2 runs together and take a 4-3 lead. Joe Becker began the inning with a single. He then swiped 2nd and moved to 3rd on a single from Jonmarc Lippincott. Brandon Riley then drove a ball deep in the gap in right center but Jacob Robinson was able to make a diving snare which limited the damage to a sacrifice fly and a 3-3 tie. Kody Barth then singled which prompted the Redlegs to go to the bullpen. Eric Williams entered and walked 2 batters, and one scored on a wild pitch which gave the Rangers the 4-3 lead. With the bases loaded Nick Gilmore then hit a hard ground ball right back up the middle but Williams was able make a great jumping catch, fire home to force an out and Millard completed the double play with a perfect throw to first to end the inning.

Joe Becker relieved Delbridge in the 8th and was in line for the win if he could preserve the lead for the Rangers. Needing at least one run to stay alive, the Redlegs threatened in the top of the 9th. Matt Mattice put the tying run in scoring position when he reached on an error and stole 2nd base. After a fly out, Greg Pfeiffer reached on another error which put runners on the corners. Pfeiffer then stole 2nd putting the potential go ahead run only 180 feet away. Becker punched out the next batter and was set to face Jacob Robinson with the game on the line. With a full count, Robinson smacked a ground ball right back up the middle. Becker was able to reach out and snag it and complete the easy throw to first to end the game.

The Rangers improve to 5-2 on the season while the Redlegs dip to 6-4. After a break for Father’s Day weekend, the league will resume action on June 26th when the Redlegs will get together with the Wright Knights for a double header at MUM Monroe.

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