Fuiten lands in record books as
Railsplitters crush Chargers 14-4
[May 29, 2025]
The Railsplitters first postseason win of 2025 is in the
books as the team knocked out Champaign Centennial Wednesday night
by a final score of 14-4 in the Class 3A regionals.
Lincoln’s winning pitcher, Carson Fuiten, is also in the record
books with a major accomplishment.
Fuiten, a junior, now holds the Railsplitters pitching record with
19 career wins. He broke the previous record of 18 wins set by Wyatt
Mammen last season.
“Carson has been a steady force for us on the mound since his
freshman year,” said Lincoln coach August Casson. “It couldn’t have
happened to a nicer kid. I am extremely proud of him. We are hoping
to add to his win total with a couple more wins in the postseason.”
Fuiten has been phenomenal in the postseason for Lincoln throughout
his career. He’s won a regional game for the baseball program in
each of his three years in high school. In addition to his
impressive record of 19 career wins (and counting), the three
regional wins is quite a feat too. No doubt, Grandpa Howie is proud
of Carson Clyde.
The entire team stepped up versus the Chargers. The Railsplitters
had eleven hits in the game. The team did not commit an error.
Lincoln opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with two
runs, however on zero hits. Lead-off hitter Ashton Corley was
awarded first base when he was hit by a pitch and Austin Lucas moved
him over when he walked. Drew Hayes reached on a ground ball error
and this allowed Corley to score the first run of the game. Parker
Graue walked to load the bases and following two outs, Karson
Komnick walked to force in another run. Owen Comstock ended the
inning on a strikeout with Lincoln up 2-0.
Lincoln went up 3-0 in the top of the second inning on an RBI
groundout by Lucas.
Lincoln starter Parker Graue ran into a little trouble in the bottom
of the third inning and he exited the game with a 3-3 tie. He
surrendered a triple, a single, three walks and a hit by pitch that
put a charge in Champaign’s offense. Graue left the game with one
out and the bases loaded. Fuiten came into the game and got out of
the jam with a strikeout and ground out.
Lincoln took a 7-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Drew Hayes
singled in the go-ahead run for Lincoln. Graue followed suit with an
RBI single. Jadyn Gulley followed Graue in the lineup with a single
and then it was Griffin Shaw’s grounder to second that scored
another run. Lincoln scored their final run in the inning on a wild
pitch.
Lincoln’s bats showed no signs of cooling off in the fifth inning as
the team lit up the scoreboard for seven more runs. All seven runs
were scored after two quick outs. The team had five hits in the
inning, beginning with a single by Lucas. Hayes drove Lucas in on a
double to left. Hayes has been a doubles machine this season.
Graue’s single to center scored Hayes. After Gulley walked, Graue
scored on an error on the ground ball hit by Shaw.
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Lincoln junior Carson Fuiten breaks LCHS career wins record with 19.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Fuiten.
The luck got worse for the Chargers, who then hit Komnick in his
at-bat. Owen Comstock sent another Railer run across home plate with
a line drive to left. After a pitching change, Kyle Koehler greeted
the new guy with a two-run single. Corley finished the offensive
explosion with an RBI single to center and the Railsplitters went up
14-3.
Fuiten started the bottom of the fifth inning with a strikeout on
three pitches. He then allowed back-to-back doubles that plated one
run. But after another strikeout and a groundout, the Railsplitters
were able to secure the 14-4 win via the ten-run rule.
“Our bats came alive and we put pressure on them early and kept it
on them,” added Casson.
Ashton Corley, Drew Hayes, Parker Graue and Jadyn Gulley each had a
multi-hit game.
Corley was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
Hayes was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
Graue was 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs.
Gulley was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.
Comstock, Koehler and Lucas rounded out the offense with base hits.
Parker Graue started the game for Lincoln and he worked two and one
third innings, allowing three runs on two hits. He gave up four
walks and struck out one batter.
Carson Fuiten worked two and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on
two hits. He struck out three batters and walked zero. Fuiten faced
ten batters. Of his 43 pitches thrown, 32 were strikes.
Three Champaign pitchers combined in the loss.
Lincoln (16-16) will play Champaign Central (23-12-1) at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday for the Class 3A regional championship. The regionals are
hosted by Champaign Central at Spaulding Park.
[Teena Lowery]
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