The traditionally good natured rivalry between the South Ripley Raiders of SRHS and the Jac-Cen-Del Eagles of JCDHS met for one last time in the 2012 sports season as varsity baseball teams went head to head at JCDHS.
This time the Eagles were able to secure the upper hand with an 11-1 victory by game's end. Ever an enjoyable event regardless of what the season or what the sport when the two traditionally solid athletic fan supported programs meet in competition.
Due to the evolution of class sports, this year's final meeting between the two teams was held at JCDHS on Friday evening, May 18.
On the mound defending the home turf was Eagle sophomore pitcher, Alex Schoetmer. Taking the mound for the Raiders, senior right handed hurler, Brandon Sizemore.
Raider at bat - top of 1st
In opening action, Eagle Schoettmer was able to shut the Raiders down 1-2-3, as lead off batter Brandon Sizemore hit into a routine 1-3 put out from pitcher Schoettmer to first baseman Cody Horan, junior Joe Dicken was retired via a strike out and catcher Jason Dilk grounded out to Eagle shortstop Brytton Rogers throw to first.
Eagle at bat - bottom of 1st
Brytton Rogers was first in the Eagle battery, retired by short stop Nathan Meisberger to first basenman Amos Taylor. Eagle third baseman Trey Brown delivered the first base hit of the game. Eagle catcher Trent Smith followed with a single, moving Brown to second. Pitcher Schoettmer reached on an error charged to SR's right fielder, loading the bases. Eagle center fielder Dominique Norman rallied for a two RBI double. Second baseman Joe Harlemert singled to drive in the third run of the opening inning before Codie Horan struck out The third out came of left fielder Tyler Straubs at bat, however, JCD had put 3 runs on the score board.
Raider at bat - top of 2nd
Logan Linkmeyer led off the second inning at bat for SR with a welcomed single, ending up left on third base. Senior Nathan Meisberger went down on strikes. Senior Amos Taylor reached on an error charged to Rogers at shortstop. Third baseman Cody Jackson drew a walk, loading the bases. But their storing threat died with an Austin Halcomb ground out 4-3.
Eagle at bat - bottom of 2nd
The Eagle second inning at bat found a short stay, as right fielder Tyler Straub went down on strikes, Rogers flew out to left fielder Linkmeyer with the third out a result of a strike out on Brown.
Raider at bat - top of 3rd
A strike out was pitched to lead off batter and right fielder JC Boyken. Senior Sizemore drew a walk, however Dicken fell 4-3 with Dilk going down to the shortstop for the third out.
Eagle at bat - bottom of 3rd
The Eagle third inning at bat led to their adding 5 more runs, grasping an 8-0 lead. Smith walked, Schoettmer tripled driving in Smith. Norman went down on strikes, but Harlemert singled to score Schoettmer. Horan was dejected via the strike out. Straub reached base on an error assessed to shortstop Meisberger. Riley Thomas drew a walk. Rogers hit a 2 RBI single followed by a third out off a second to first put out off the bat of Smith.
Raider at bat - top of 4th
Leading off in the fourth inning, Linkmeyer grounded out 5-3. Schoettmer sent Meisberger and Taylor to the dugout with back to back strike outs.
Eagle at bat - bottom of 4th
Schoettmer flew out to Jackson at third for the first out of the Eagle at bat, however back to back to back singles by Norman, Harlemert and Horan added up to three more runs scored for JCD by the time Straub was retired on a Riley FC. Rogers FC connection made the third out, but JCD had added three more runs to an 8-0 lead, for an 11 run edge.
Raider at bat - top of 5th
Desperation time had engulfed the Raiders as they came to the plate in the top of the fifth inning, with the exasperating real possibility of going down to a 10 Run in 5 innings rule game.
Jackson drew a walk as the Raider lead off batter. An error charged to Rogers at second on a routine double play shot left runners on first and second with no outs. Boyken's soft hit to first base was mishandled by Horan allowing the bases to be loaded when the game should have for all practical purposes been over.
Was the dreaded inability to end a game going to hamper the Eagles again as it had several times through the season already? That was the question requiring an answer, from Coach Bradshaw, sooner than later.
Sizemore hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Jackson from third base. Dicken was called out on strikes and with Boyken retired on the Sizemore FC, SR was down to one out and yet trailed by 10 runs in the top of the fifth.
Schoettmer retired Linkmeyer at the plate on a strike out.
Ball game, unlike the first one where JCD led until Linkmeyer hit a home run to capture a two out seventh inning Raider victory at SRHS.
Other scores for JCD vs
Eagles 8 - 5 Milan
Eagles 0 - 8 Rising Sun
Eagles 2 - 8 South Decatur