Hartman Drives in 4, Marquez Gets 1st Hit in Win

06/13/2017
 

A hot June day on Sunday at Madison High School set the stage for the 25th and 26th editions of the Backyard Battle between the Camden Redlegs and Dayton Rangers. The Rangers have had the upper hand in this series, going 15-9 over the first 24 contests. After the dust settled, the Redlegs were able to pull out two victories to improve their 2017 season record to 8-3 and inch closer to evening up the Backyard Battle series.

The first inning looked as though it would be uneventful, as Rangers starter Joe Becker struck out the first two batters of the game. Kyle Arend then singled to keep the inning alive, which set up a 2-run bomb off the bat of Mike Hartman.

The Rangers cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the 2nd when Joe Becker doubled and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Ben Schooler.

The Redlegs then pushed the lead to 4-1 in the top of the 3rd inning. Jacob Robinson started the inning with a single and moved to 2nd on a wild pickoff attempt and 3rd on a passed ball. Arend then walked before Hartman scored Robinson on a grounder to 2nd base. James Robinson then scored Arend with a sacrifice fly.

That is when disaster struck for the Redlegs as the Rangers proceeded to pile on 7 runs and take an 8-4 lead in the bottom of the 3rd. Jonmarc Lippincott started the rally for the Rangers with a single followed by hits from Brandon Marshall, Joe Becker, and Robert Neseteroff. Ben Schooler then drilled a bases clearing double into the left center gap with prompted the Redlegs to make an early call to the bullpen. Aaron Carmack came on to try to stop the bleeding and got the job done. Nick Gilmore was able to knock Schooler in with a sacrifice fly to plate the innings 7th run. Lippincott then had his 2nd chance to start a rally and he laced a line drive into right center field, but Jacob Robinson was able to take the hit away with a diving snag to end the inning.

Now Trailing 8-4 the Redlegs needed a spark and they got one when rookie backstop Ryan Gross slashed a double to start the top of the 4th. Jared Bradley then singled before Jacob Robinson was plunked to load the bases. The next 4 batters then recorded RBIs. Matt Mattice brought 2 home with a single, Kyle Arend singled in another, and Mike Hartman brought one across with another ground ball out to the right side. James Robinson then knocked in the go-ahead run to give the Redlegs new life and a 9-8 lead. The lead was short lived however as the Rangers were able to scratch out unearned runs in each of the 4th and 5th innings.

Once again trailing, now 10-9, the Redlegs again re- claimed the lead in the top of the 6th. Jacob Robinson singled to lead off the inning before Matt Mattice reached on an error. Arend then knocked both runners in to put the Redlegs again 11-10.

The Rangers were not about to go down without a fight as they quickly loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom half of the 6th. Matt Morrison then made a run saving play by snagging up a grounder and making a nice throw to cut down the runner heading for home. Carmack then induced an infield fly for the 2nd out before recording a huge strike out to get out of the jam.

The Redlegs got an insurance run in the top of the 7th when Isaac Marquez started the inning with his first career MVABL hit. Matt Redman entered as a pinch runner for Marquez and moved up to 2nd on a single by Jared Bradley. Jacob Robinson then shot a grounder through the right side of the infield and Redman motored around to score, making the score 12-10.

The Rangers got a leadoff double from Nick Gilmore to start the bottom of the 7th but Carmack buckled down and retired the next 3 batters in order to cement the win.

Boxscore

PlayerABHRRBIBB
J Robinson43310
M Mattice51220
K Arend43331
M Hartman41140
J Robinson31020
M Morrison20002
J Gross41100
I Marquez41000
J Bradley42100
M Redman00100

2B: Gross
HR: Hartman

PlayerIPHRERKBB
M Redman 2.3368834
A Carmack (W)4.6772031