12U Redlegs throw back-to-back shutouts to claim championship
Gary Franklin
SPORTS EDITOR
On Saturday, Sept. 28, Coach Jeff Greiwe’s 12U Redlegs Baseball Club participated in the Ceraland Fall League Championship Tourney. The Redlegs finished as regular season champions with an outstanding 6-0 record.
Tournament
GAME ONE
Behind a complete game shutout by Joel Norman of Milan, the Redlegs defeated the Jefferson County Owls in semi-final action, 5-0. Norman pitched six innings. During his six innings of work, he allowed only two singles with neither runner reaching third base. While pitching the game for the Redlegs, he struck out a career high 12 batters, solidifying their victory.
Offensive action found Cody Wilson of North Vernon doubling and scoring a run. Noah Rutan of Columbus doubled to drive in a run, later scoring himself.
The four runs added after the first became nice buffers, but as the game progressed, the first run was all they really needed to advance to the championship game.
GAME TWO
Due to a forfeit by the Indiana Blazers, the Hope Bandits advanced to the championship game to face the Redlegs. The Redlegs wasted no time getting into battle mode as they scored four times in the first inning of play. The first inning triumph was highlighted by a Devon Rodger’s suicide squeeze bunt that worked to perfection. Proceeding, after holding the Bandits, the red hot Redlegs added six more runs the second.
Redleg offensive prowess was keyed off the bat of Rutan as he launched a three run homer, while Aaron Greiwe of South Ripley drove a couple more runs across the plate with his two RBI singles. A solo home run by Rutan in the fourth put the finishing touch on a 11-0 victory. Rutan pitched three innings to earn the win on the mound, while Tyler Walterman of North Decatur and Peyton Owens of South Ripley came in to deliver scoreless relief work from the mound. Rutan ended his day hitting three for three with two home runs and four RBI's.
Greiwe was two for two, slipping in for two stolen bases, while producing a couple of RBI’s from his efforts.
Wilson batted two for three at the plate for the game with a double, an RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored.
The Redlegs finish fall play with a perfect 8-0 record They are anxiously awaiting the 2014 season.