A game that seemed to be heading towards a disappointing blow-out loss quickly turned into one of the craziest games in Carmi-White County baseball history.
The Bulldogs welcomed Flora into Eckerle Park in a game that was supposed to be played 20 days prior, but after two consecutive rainouts, the two teams battled it out on an 86 degree Wednesday afternoon.
The first time these two teams met it was the definition of a pitchers duel. The Bulldogs won 1-0 behind 7 shutout innings from Landon Driscoll and by the way this game started, it seemed to be heading in that same direction.
Flora plated 1 in the top of the 1st inning on a bloop single. The Bulldogs had runners on 1st and 2nd in the home 1st, but eventually came away empty handed.
Flora’s offense began to click in the 3rd inning. A 3-run home run by Neil Young extended the Wolves’ lead to 4-0.
The Bulldogs were able to cut that deficit in half thanks to a 2-run home run by Caleb Seibers in the bottom of the 3rd, his 4th homer of the year.
Both teams scored a run in the 4th to make it 5-3 Flora, but then the tables turned in favor of the orange and blue.
The Wolves plated 4 runs in the 5th inning, all of the sudden jumping out to a 9-3 lead.
From a bystander’s perspective, the game felt out of reach. Flora was hitting the cover off the ball, and the Bulldogs couldn’t seem to catch a break. But as we all know, there is no clock in baseball.
Carmi was able to score 4 in the bottom of the 6th inning to make it a 9-7 ballgame thanks to RBI singles by Travor Mason and Gavin Holloman, an RBI fielders choice off the bat of Merick Millhorn, and then a sacrifice fly from Maxon O’Daniel.
Suddenly the Dogs had life.
Flora loaded the bases in the 7th, but they left them stranded after scoring just 1, making it a 10-7 ballgame heading into the bottom of the 7th.
A beautiful bunt single by Cade Allen, followed by walks to Seibers and Mason loaded the bases for the Bulldogs with 2 outs.
Down to their final strike, senior Trayton Vickers came through with a 3-run base hit to tie the game.
Vickers lined one into center field that just dropped in front of the center fielder. Not only did the ball drop in front of the center fielder, it rolled between his legs all the way to the wall.
Allen, Seibers, and Mason scored with ease and somehow the game was tied.
Merick Millhorn then came to the plate, and nobody could’ve predicted what would happen next.
Millhorn popped one up right to the first baseman. Just when you thought the game was heading into extra innings, the ball hit the dirt and Vickers scored. Capping off one of the craziest comebacks in CWC history.
The Bulldogs stormed out of the 3rd base dugout to mob Vickers and Millhorn, as Flora walked off the field in disbelief.
“This is exactly what we needed,” said head coach Justin Simmons. “A game like this can change your entire season, and I hope for us it turns things in the right direction.”
Simmons was exactly right. The Bulldogs desperately needed a morale-boosting win.
After starting the year 15-1, Carmi had dropped 5 of their last 7 games. A game like the one they won on Wednesday couldn’t have come at a better time as the Bulldogs will begin regional play in two weeks.
The team showed grit, resilience, and teamwork to pull off the improbable victory against a very good Flora team.
On the mound, Travor Mason earned the win after entering the game in the 5th inning. Mason allowed 4 runs on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts. Caleb Seibers started the game, he gave up 6 runs on 8 hits with 5 strikeouts.
At the plate,
Seibers went 3-for-4 at the plate with 3 RBI, 3 runs scored and his 4th home run of the season.
Mason went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Gavin Holloman went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Trayton Vickers went 1-for-3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored.
Merick Millhorn went 1-for-5.
Maxon O’Daniel went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Cade Allen went 2-for-2 with 4 runs scored.
The Bulldogs improve their record to 17-6 on the year and 6-3 in the Black Diamond Conference.
They will close out conference play on Thursday as they host Fairfield at Eckerle Park.
