Making It Count
Emporia AAAs snap out of 5-game losing skid with pair of big wins over Post 125
Saturday, June 23, 2007
By Jesse Newell
newell@emporiagazette.com
When Jaime Carlos finally got his chance, he made sure to not let it pass.
The Emporia second baseman received his first action of the season Friday in the AAAs’ 9-2 and 18-3 victories over Post 125.
And, when it was over, he had two hits, an RBI, a run scored and a whole lot of congratulations from his teammates.
“I think if this night was about anyone, it should be him,” Emporia AAA coach Ryan Oden said.
In the last two years, Carlos has only gotten to play a handful of games, making his mark mostly in practice.
That was until Friday, when he stepped to the plate in his second at-bat against Post 125’s Jeremy Testerman.
“I was looking for a first-pitch fastball,” Carlos said, “and I just turned on it.”
The line drive made its way into left field, giving Carlos his first hit of the season.
“I know he was excited,” Oden said. “He’s a kid that works hard, doesn’t complain, and he’s definitely deserving of what happened tonight.”
It became even better for Carlos in Game Two.
In the third inning he pinch hit for Jared Krause, using a 33-inch bat instead of his customary 32.
“Everyone was coming out of their shoes on swings,” Carlos said, “so I went up there with that approach.”
Carlos ended up hitting it harder this time.
The right-handed hitter smashed the ball to left center, scoring Adam Tebben with the RBI single.
“It was a good day overall,” Carlos said. “I’m glad they gave me the chance to do that.”
The two games were a welcome change for the AAAs, as Emporia had lost five straight entering the doubleheader.
“After all the losses, this gets our confidence up,” Krause said.
In Game One, The AAAs started the bats early.
Leadoff hitter Taylor Clark was hit by a pitch, and Alex Reyes followed with a single in the hole at shortstop.
Cole Armitage delivered a triple to the wall in right center, bringing in Clark and Reyes for a 2-0 lead.
Joe Solis’ grounder to first later scored Armitage.
Meanwhile, Krause gave the AAAs a quality start, allowing just two runs in a complete-game performance.
The right-hander struck out five and walked one.
“I threw strikes and let them hit the ball,” Krause said. “I have to let my defense work for me.”
Armitage and Reyes led Emporia offensively, posting two hits apiece.
The second game turned out to be a laugher.
Emporia scored 13 runs in the first — an inning in which Clark batted three times.
The first five AAA hitters walked, and after a fielder’s choice, two more were hit by pitches.
After an error and two more walks, Post 125’s Alex Walsh was pulled. He allowed 11 runs on no hits and failed to get an out.
Following a hit-by-pitch and two more walks, Krause finally gave Emporia something it hadn’t had yet: a hit.
With the bases full, Krause picked on a fastball down the middle, lining it down the left-field line for a two-run double.
“Everybody was walking so they told us to swing away,” Krause said.
“I was glad I broke up the no-hitter,” he added with a smile.
The game ended with the 15-after-3 run-rule in the bottom of the third.
Emporia (9-8) will not play Topeka Post 1 on Sunday because of schedule conflicts. Instead, the AAAs will be back in action Tuesday at home against the Lawrence Raiders.
Friday at Emporia
Game One
Emporia 9, Post 125 — 2
Post 125 001 010 0 — 2 5 5
Emporia AAAs 301 401 X — 9 6 2
W — Jared Krause. L — Jeremy Testerman.
2B — Post 125: Quinton Testerman; Emporia: Cole Armitage. 3B — Emporia: Cole Armitage. SB — Post 125: Kyle Wolf, Derek Connor; Emporia: Taylor Clark 2, Joe Solis, Jonathan Hrabik, Brandon Little.
Emporia AAA highlights — Jared Krause CG, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 5K; Cole Armitage 2-3, 3B, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB; Alex Reyes 2-3, 2R, RBI, HBP; Joe Solis 1-2, R, 2 BB, SB.
Game Two
Emporia 18, Post 125 — 3
Post 125 102 XXX X — 3 3 2
Emporia AAAs (13)05 XXX X — 18 5 2
W — Alex Reyes. L — Alex Walsh.
2B — Post 125: Derek Conner 2; Emporia: Jonathan Hrabik. SB — Emporia: Taylor Clark, Alex Reyes.
Emporia AAA highlights — Jared Krause 1-1, 3B, 3 RBI, R; Jaime Carlos 1-1, RBI, R; Adam Tebben 1-1, R; Jonathan Hrabik 1-2, 2B, 3 R.
post125 (anonymous) says...
I wish that your reporter had taken the time to interview us before writing this story. Our team had just played a double header at Coffeyville the night before and we were out of pitchers for the second game. This was also only our third and fourth games of the season and Alex Walsh did about as good as we expected considering that he had not pitched in three years. As far as a "laugher" goes, I would say your newspaper rates as one. And if you were to look at the books, you will notice that if you take away one bad inning in both games we would have been very much in both of them. And considering we are only a double A team as opposed to a triple A I think that says quite alot about our ability.
Brian Romine
American Legion Post 125 manager/ Assistant coach/ sergant at arms
June 26, 2007 at 2:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )