The first round of the 2018 MVABL playoffs would make for an interesting draw for the Redlegs, as they needed to sweep the Wild Boars in the final double header of the season to lock up the 3rd seed in the tournament. The bad news is that the Boars had the Redlegs number in 2018, winning both of their prior matchups earlier in the season. The Redlegs were finally able to best the boars in their final matchup, but they lost the first game of the double header which dropped the Redlegs to the 4th seed and a 1-3 record versus the boars in the regular season. This of course meant that the Redlegs would be matched up with the 5th seed Boars once again, this time with the season on the line.

Redlegs ace Aaron Carmack went to work against the Boars’ Travis Knight and it looked like a pitcher’s duel early on as both teams threatened but neither could get on the scoreboard in the first two frames. The scoreless tie was broken by the Boars in the top of the 3rd as they pushed 3 runs across before Carmack was able to wiggle out of the bases loaded jam with a pop out to first base. Carmack would eventually strand 12 Wild Boar baserunners on the day.

The Redlegs fought back in the bottom of the 4th when Joey Watson blasted a 2-run shot over the left field fence, driving in Nick Davis who singled earlier in the inning. The momentum carried over into the 5th inning, leading to 3 more Redleg runs. Jacob Robinson walked with one out, followed by a single from Nick Davis and an RBI base hit by Kyle Arend. Another strikeout looked like it might kill the rally, but Joey Watson, Brandon Howard, and James Robinson all walked consecutively to bring two more runs home. Howard and Robinson recorded an RBI each with their bases loaded free passes.

Trailing 5-3, the Boars had no plans of going away quietly as Travis Knight helped himself out with an RBI base hit to inch the Boars closer at 5-4.

The Redlegs then scored what would turn out to be a very important insurance run in the bottom half of the 6th. Nick Davis reached on a fielder’s choice, moved to 2nd on a passed ball, and was driven in by Kyle Arend.

After retiring the first batter in the top of the 7th, a walk, a botched double play, and a sacrifice fly led to a Boars run with the tying run at 3rd base. Carmack rose to the occasion and punched out the final batter in the pressure packed at bat, ending the threat and giving the Redlegs a very important game 1 victory.

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