Indian Creek eliminates Warriors from post season

By Dan Ries

CCM Sports Reporter

The Indian Creek Redskins scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Carrollton Warriors 5-4 in the first round of district baseball action May 20 in Richmond. 

The Redskins used three walks, a hit by pitch and a Warrior error to come from behind for the win. The game featured five lead changes. It was the second time in two years the Warriors lost in the first round of district play by one run.

A very large crowd gathered at Edison High School on a cloudless, hot May evening for the playoff game. The temperature topped 90 degrees, a near record high for May, as the sun beat down on the artificial turf. Players from both teams would feel the effects of the heat as the game progressed into the later innings.

The Redskins started the scoring in the bottom of the first. An infield single to deep short and a stolen base put a runner on second with two outs. A single to center drove the runner in for a 1-0 lead.

Carrollton was having a hard time getting started as Indian Creek starting pitcher Sylus Hyde struck out seven of the first eight batters he faced. His pitches were popping in the catcher’s mitt early. But starting the third inning, he appeared to lose some of his velocity, walking Hayden Jenkins on four pitches, as he began to miss the bottom of the strike zone. 

Garrett Broadwater laid down a bunt single to put Warriors on first and second. Jacob Whitmore walked to load the bases. Hunter Allison hit a deep sacrifice fly to center, scoring Jenkins and tying the game at 1-1. Broadwater moved to third on the throw and scored three pitches later on a wild pitch to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead.

The Redskins would strike back in the bottom of the fifth. 

After retiring the first two batters, Jenkins walked the next batter. A ball to deep center off the glove of a diving Broadwater resulted in a double and a tied game. The next batter smacked a double down the left field line to give Indian Creek the lead back at 3-2 after five innings.

The Warriors didn’t waste any time as Allison singled to center. On the next pitch, James singled to right field putting runners on first and second. The Indian Creek coach made a pitching change and Cooper Haun greeted him with a single to center, loading the bases with nobody out. Aiden McCort walked on four straight pitches, scoring Allison. Isaac Husted followed with a sacrifice ground ball to first, scoring James and putting the Warriors in front 4-3.

Head Coach Brian Connelly made a pitching change in the bottom of the sixth, sending Husted to the mound for the Warriors. He walked the first batter before getting the next two batters out on popouts. A Warrior error put runners on first and second and a batter hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Redskins. Back-to-back walks put the Redskins up 5-4.

There was still some fight left in the Warriors. 

Broadwater walked on four pitches and stole second. The Redskins made a second pitching change. Whitmore drew a walk after being down 1-2 in the count and both runners advanced on a wild pitch putting Warriors on second and third with nobody out. After a strikeout, James hit a ground ball to first. Instead of stepping on the base, the first baseman fired home in time to catch Broadwater at the plate for the second out. The game would end for the Warriors the same way it started, with a strikeout.

Indian Creek outhit the Warriors 7-5, while Carrollton had the only error. The Warriors struck out 13 times to the Redskins six. Both teams walked six times.

Jenkins threw five innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits, three walks while striking out five. McConnell tossed one inning, giving up two unearned runs on no hits, three walks and struck out one.

James was 2-3 at the plate, scoring a run. Broadwater went 1-3 with a run. Allison was 1-3 with a run and an RBI. 

Carrollton finishes the season 17-7.