Alex Reyes didn’t mean to inspire Jaime Carlos. He was only kidding around.
Just before Emporia’s second game with Junction City, Reyes and some teammates jokingly asked the sparingly used infielder how many doubles and triples he had hit this season. Carlos sheepishly answered none.
So guess who hit two doubles, scored the game-winning run, and left Reyes almost speechless after the Emporia AAAs’ sweep-clinching 3-2 victory over Junction City?
That would be none other than Carlos himself.
“Today was his last game playing here,” a stunned Reyes said after the game, “so why not?”
After driving a fourth-inning double into the right-center gap, Carlos stepped to the plate in the sixth with one out and the score tied at 2.
“I figured it was a pretty important at-bat,” Carlos said. “I was the go-ahead run.”
Carlos blasted a fastball deeper this time, splitting the two Junction City outfielders in the right-center alley. After rounding second, he returned to the bag for his second double of the day — and of the season.
“The guys were cheering when I was on second,” Carlos said. “It felt good.”
The Emporia second baseman ended up scoring without any help from his teammates. He moved to third on a wild pickoff throw by Junction City pitcher Colby Kamm, then came home with two outs on a wild pitch to make it 3-2.
“He works non-stop, whether it’s in practice of before games,” Emporia AAAs coach Ryan Oden said. “He’s a kid you hope good things happen to.”
Given a one-run lead, Reyes battled through a zany top of the seventh to close out his complete-game victory.
The right-hander walked Reggie America on a borderline 3-2 pitch to start the inning. America stole second base, and Emporia catcher Harrison Stone’s throw sailed to the outfield right to Taylor Clark.
The center fielder’s throw to third baseman Michael Knight beat America to the bag, but the runner was ruled safe by the umpire. Oden argued the call to no avail.
With the infield in, Reyes struck out Zach Mann looking before giving up a lined shot to Ty Zimmerman.
Left fielder Jonathan Hrabik made a diving attempt for the ball, but it ended up hitting the grass first.
Somehow, Emporia still managed to keep the lead. America failed to tag on the play, then returned to third base once he thought the ball had been caught by Hrabik.
A quick throw to the infield kept runners on first and third.
“I knew I had to bear down,” Reyes said, “and get a groundball or strikeout.”
Reyes did just that.
He got Josh Hubbard on a check-swing strike three, frustrating the outfielder so that much he chucked his bat all the way to the dugout from just outside the batter’s box.
Reyes fell behind Kamm 2-0 before coming back with a pair of off-speed strikes.
“I had all my adrenaline going,” Reyes said.
He finished Kamm by nipping the outside corner to end the game.
Reyes struck out eight batters and allowed just four hits and one earned run.
“It feels great, especially after four or five terrible outings,” Reyes said. “It was the last game at Soden’s that I’m ever going to pitch — I was going to leave it on the field. I know it sounds cliché, but that’s what I did.”
Carlos had half of Emporia’s four hits, while Joe Solis and Brandon Little had the others.
Emporia started its bats early in Game One’s 10-2 run-rule victory.
The AAAs scored three in the first, three in the second and four more in the third to build their lead.
Hrabik led the offense, going 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run. He drove in a run in each of his three plate appearance.
Jared Krause went 1-for-1 with two runs scored and also picked up the victory.
The AAAs held their dedication for the new grandstand before the doubleheader. Mayor Julie Johnson threw out the first pitch, and the colors were presented by Post 5 Legionnaires.
Emporia (16-16) will travel to play Junction City on Saturday.