For the first time since 2014, the Salem Wildcats beat Mt Vernon in their season opener 7-6. The Cats built an early 4-1 lead before the Rams would tie it at 4 midway through the game. Salem would plate 3 more runs to take a 7-4 lead. After scraping across one run in the sixth, Mt Vernon made one last push in the 7th.
Cale Mauer reached and then with one out, the Rams would get a line drive single that would get under the defender’s glove leading to Mauer scoring and the tying run getting to 3rd base with only 1 out. But, Wildcats catcher Ryan Detering blocked a ball and then threw behind the runner at 3rd for a HUGE 2nd out and Cooper Lobek made a great defensive play in the gap in Centerfield to finish off the game.
Jalen Inlow was a star for Salem. The Greenville commit played stellar defense at shortstop as well as hitting a double, triple, walking and scoring 3 runs. Rhett Detering added 2 hits and drove in 3. Cooper Lobek also singled home a run and Braden Rector added an RBI.
Noah Nix was the winning pitcher going 4 innings. Rhett Detering struck out 5 in his 3 innings of relief for the save. The duo combined to strike out 11 and walk just 3.
Salem will be back in action on Friday with their home opener against Murphysboro while Mt Vernon heads to Edwardsville on Wednesday.
The Salem JV earned a 7-4 comeback win over the Rams. The Cats would score 5 runs in the top of the 4th with the biggest blow being Luke Boldt’s 2-run single. The freshman had a really solid game as he drove in those two runs going 1-2 on the day with 3 walks and then was the winning pitcher in relief allowing 1 hit and 1 run over 4 innings striking out 7 and walking just 1. Jaxon Ward was the starter for the Cats and did well allowing 3 hits and 2 earned over 3 innings. He struck out 5. At the plate, Evan Barnes added 2 hits for the JV.
Odin/Patoka/Sandoval takes their 1-0 record to Spears Field today to host Christ Our Rock.
Centralia is in action on the road at Benton.
Baseball Scores:
Althoff 16 East St Louis 1
Carbondale 12 Anna 3
Carmi 10 Benton 0
Fairfield 18 Grayville 3
Galatia 7 Cisne 3
Greenville 15 Wood River 1
Harrisburg 11 Vienna 1
Lawrenceville 12 Red Hill 2
Marion 12 DuQuoin 9
Mattoon 11 Pana 1
Mt Carmel 12 OPH 4
Murphysboro 13 Trico 3
Newton 18 Flora 0
North Clay 3 Case 0
Robinson 8 Dieterich 5
Roxana 1 Greenfield 0
Shelbyville 16 SEB 12
TTown 19 Neoga 0
Vandalia 4 Cumberland 2
Windsor/Stew Stras 14 Tri County 4
