Railsplitters reach 20 wins

 

[May 22, 2023]  The Railsplitters earned their 20th win of the season with a 1-0 win over the Mattoon Green Wave last week but the team also notched two ties on the ball diamond. The second game of a doubleheader versus Mattoon on Tuesday ended in a 3-3 tie due to darkness and the game on Friday versus Normal West ended in a 4-4 tie, again due to darkness.

Monday, May 15, 2023

The week began with the Railsplitters blanking the Jacksonville Crimson Tide 5-0.

Carson Fuiten tossed the complete game shutout versus the Crimson Tide. Fuiten has been outstanding on the mound for the Railsplitters this season. The freshman allowed just four hits in seven innings of work, striking out four batters and walking two. He faced 26 batters, throwing 82 pitches total in the outing. He threw 56 of the 82 pitches for strikes.

The Railsplitters were able to get a couple runners on base in the bottom of the first inning via walks and then it was Jarrett Evers with a double to center to drive home a run and put the team in front early 1-0.

The Railsplitters were able to score four more times in the bottom of the fifth inning. A leadoff walk to Michael Lucas and back-to-back singles by Jaden Leadley and Brenden Wurth loaded the bases for Lincoln. Evers grounded into a fielder’s choice to drive in the first run of the inning. Wyatt Mammen’s single to center drove in another Lincoln run. Things got a little wild before the inning and the Railsplitters scored two more runs on wild pitches. Trey Schilling was also hit by a pitch in his at-bat. When the inning came to a close, Lincoln was on top 5-0.

Fuiten and company held the Crimson Tide scoreless in the final two innings and Lincoln walked off Mike Curry Field with a 5-0 victory.

Jarrett Evers led the Railsplitters with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Evers drove in two runs.

Colbie Glenn, Michael Lucas, Jaden Leadley, Brenden Wurth and Wyatt Mammen each had hits for Lincoln.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

The Railsplitters hosted the Mattoon Green Wave on Tuesday for an Apollo Conference doubleheader. Lincoln won the first game 1-0 and the second game ended in a 3-3 tie.

Wyatt Mammen was outstanding on the mound for Lincoln in game one. He tossed a complete game shutout for the win, allowing just one hit. Mammen struck out nine batters and walked one. He threw 103 pitches in seven innings, 69 of which were strikes. He faced 26 batters.

Lincoln got their one run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Wes Tedrick singled to third base, reached second on a wild pitch and then scored on Colbie Glenn’s single to the shortstop that also resulted in an error.

The one run was all Mammen needed and Lincoln was good to go with a 1-0 win in game one.

Colbie Glenn led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

Jaden Leadley, Trey Schilling, Drew Hayes and Wes Tedrick also had hits for Lincoln.

In game two of the doubleheader the Railsplitters and the Green Wave battled for eight innings, before being forced to end the game due to darkness. The game ended in a 3-3 tie.

Lincoln took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Wyatt Mammen drove in Trey Schilling on a groundout.

The Green Wave retaliated with two runs in the top of the third inning, taking a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Green Wave added a sacrifice fly to bring home another run and increase the lead to 3-1.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Jarrett Evers added an RBI groundout to make the score 3-2.

Lincoln tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as Michael Lucas singled to center to drive home Drew Hayes with the tying run.

Neither team threatened to score the remainder of the game and with the danger of darkness being the real threat, the game ended after eight innings in a 3-3 tie.

Jaden Leadley started the game for Lincoln and he worked two and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Leadley struck out two batters and walked four.

Colbie Glenn tossed five and one-third innings, allowing one run on zero hits. He walked three batters and struck out seven.

Lincoln had five hits versus the Green Wave in game two.

Trey Schilling slugged a triple and Colbie Glenn crushed a double while Michael Lucas, Brenden Wurth and Drew Hayes added singles.

Friday, May 19, 2023

This game to end the week for Lincoln was more like a marathon between the Railsplitters and the Normal West Wildcats, with the game lasting 12 innings and ending in a 4-4 tie due to darkness at Mike Curry Field.

The Railsplitters used four pitchers versus the Wildcats.

Brenden Wurth started the game for Lincoln and he worked four and one-third innings. He allowed seven hits and two runs. Wurth struck out three batters and walked one.

Tate Johnston got the first call from the bullpen. Johnston worked two and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits and two runs.

Jaden Leadley was next up for Lincoln on the mound. Leadley tossed four and one-third innings, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out three.

The final call to the bullpen was answered by Michael Lucas, who tossed two-thirds innings, striking out one batter.

Lincoln captured a 1-0 lead in the first inning after a leadoff double by Colbie Glenn and a run-scoring single by Brenden Wurth.

Glenn added to the lead in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run shot to left field. Wyatt Mammen scored on the home run along with Glenn and the score was now 3-0.

The Wildcats plated two runs in the top of the third inning to close the gap to 3-2.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Leadley tallied an RBI single to score Glenn and the score was 4-2.

After two quick outs in the top of the seventh inning, the Wildcats hit back-to-back singles before a double to tie the game 4-4. The lead runner was thrown out at third base for the Wildcats and while this would end the scoring, there was plenty of baseball yet to be played. Who knew?!

Lincoln did threaten to score in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Drew Hayes reaching base on a leadoff walk, Colbie Glenn reaching base on an intentional walk and Michael Lucas singling to left. Hayes however was thrown out at home as he tried to score the winning run. The Railsplitters would leave Glenn stranded at third with Leadley striking out to end the seventh inning.

Five more innings of free baseball would ensue next, with each team getting runners on base but no one being able to score.

After 12 innings of fun the two teams were forced to leave the field due to darkness.

The second tie of the week for Lincoln was in the books, with the final score set at 4-4.

Lincoln had 10 hits versus the Wildcats.

Colbie Glenn was the hitting star for Lincoln. He was 3-for-4 with two walks. Glenn drove in two runs and scored two runs. He was a triple shy of the cycle.

Michael Lucas and Jaden Leadley each had two hits for Lincoln.

Brenden Wurth, Jarrett Evers and Drew Hayes also had hits for Lincoln.

Despite the ties, it was a good week on the diamond for the Railsplitters.

Lincoln will face East Peoria and Champaign Centennial this week.

On Monday, May 29, 2023 the Railsplitters will take on Central A & M at 6:00 p.m. at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. This is always a fun time for the players, coaches and fans. Tickets to the 1:15 p.m. game between the Cardinals and the Royals are still available from Coach August Casson. The Railsplitters and the Raiders will take the field after the MLB teams are done playing and the stadium is cleared for the high school teams.

[Teena Lowery]