Well, what a week that was #REX fans! After the REX went 4-13 over a seventeen game stretch, Wabash Valley’s Own have really turned it around! They are now on a seven game winning streak. This took their record back over .500 and they are currently 19-17 as they attempt to climb in the standings! #theREXarehot
The streak started on Wednesday, July 3 against the struggling Springfield Sliders at Bob Warn Field. Super Bowl Champion and Terre Haute Native, Danny Etling threw out the ceremonial first pitch! Second baseman Ethan Hunter inflicted the first blow against the Sliders as he scored in the bottom of the second on an RBI by shortstop Brendan Sher. The REX scored again in the bottom of the fifth inning when center fielder Mitchell Garrity scored on an error by the Sliders’ third baseman, Tyler Black. The REX scored their final run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Sher hit his second dinger of the season! Three runs is all that the REX would need as the pitching staff for the REX were infallible. They held the Sliders to no runs and only 5 hits. The starting pitcher, Foster Anshutz, got the win as he pitched for five innings with two strikeouts. This brought his ERA to 2.88 on the season! Pitcher Colten Panaranto earned the save.
On Independence day, the REX traveled to Springfield, IL to take on the Sliders once again! The REX started off hot when third baseman Jacob Mulcahy scored on an RBI double by first baseman Ross Indlecoffer in the top of the first. Indlecoffer followed that up with a score of his own on an RBI single to right field by catcher Brett McCleary. The Sliders were able to start off just as hot as they tied it up in the bottom of the first. #REXNation took the lead back when center fielder Carter Bridge went yard for the first time this season! The Sliders took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fourth inning when they scored another pair of runs. The REX were able to respond in the top of the fifth when left fielder Garrity scored on a double by Mulcahy and tied it at four! The REX took the lead back for good in the top of the seventh when Garrity scored again, but this time on a three-bagger by right fielder Aaron Beck! Designated hitter Austin Weiler scored in the top of the eighth on a double by shortstop Sher. The REX added their last run in the top of the ninth when Mulcahy scored on a passed ball by the Sliders’ catcher to take the win 7-4! The winning pitcher for the REX was Max Klein and pitcher Clayton Mayfield got the save.
The REX were back at Bob Warn Field on July 5 against the Chillicothe Paints for Military Night and they were wearing their military inspired camouflage jerseys! The REX put on a show on offense for the REX’s largest home crowd of the season, with 1,003 fans! The REX started early when left fielder Garrity scored on an error by the catcher in the bottom of the first. The Paints tied it up in the top of the third when their left fielder, Gavin Homer, lived up to his last name and homered against the REX starting pitcher Braydon Tucker. The REX came roaring back in the bottom of the inning when third baseman Mulcahy hit a two RBI single that scored Garrity and second baseman Will Hayes. Mulchay then scored when the designated hitter Weiler hit an RBI single giving the REX an early 4-1 lead. Shortstop Hunter scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to push the REX’s lead to 5-1. The Paints were able to score one in the top of the fifth, but the REX quickly answered back. Muclahy scored again on another RBI single by Weiler and first baseman Indlecoffer scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher McCleary giving the REX a 7-2 lead. The Paints were able to cut the lead to 7-3 in the sixth, but they did not score again. The hometown team finished off the Paints in the bottom of the eighth. Hunter scored on a Garrity triple and Garrity was able to reach home on an RBI single by center fielder Justin Jenkins. The REX won by a score of 9-3 and the winning pitcher for the REX was Braydon Tucker.
July 6 was supposed to be a double-header against the Lafayette Aviators, but mother nature had other plans as the second game was postponed due to a lightning delay. This night was also First Responder night! As it was originally a double-header, the game was only seven innings. The REX did damage first when center fielder Jenkins scored on an RBI by third baseman Mulcahy in the bottom of the third. The Aviators tied it at one in the top of the fifth inning. The REX responded when Jenkins scored again, but this time on an RBI double by first baseman Weiler. The Aviators were able to tie it up again in the top of the sixth inning at 2-2. The REX were mustered one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning when second baseman Sher scored on an RBI single by left fielder Garrity. That run was enough to win the game as the Aviators were not able to score in the seventh. Wabash Valley's Own won 3-2 and the winning pitcher was Colten Panaranto.
That takes us to the blue sky and the yellow sun of Sunday, July 7! The REX were finally able to squeeze in that double-header against the Lafayette Aviators. Kaleb Huxford was the starting pitcher for the REX, but that did not last long as he gave up 4 runs in less than an inning. Pitcher Joey Rogers came in to relieve Huxford in the first inning and was able to get the REX out of the first inning without anymore damage being done.
The REX cut the lead to two in the bottom of the first. Right fielder Aaron Beck scored when newcomer and left fielder Romero Harris hit an RBI double. Third baseman Mulcahy then scored on an RBI by first baseman Indlecoffer. The Aviators were able to score on an error in the top of the second to bring their lead to 5-2, but the REX were able to cross home plate a couple of more times in the bottom of the second inning. Shortstop Hunter scored on an RBI single by second baseman Cole Albers and Albers was able to score on an RBI single by center fielder Jenkins to bring the Aviators lead to only one. The Aviators added another run in the top of the third inning, but that was all she wrote for the Aviators offense in this game. The REX took the lead at 7-6 in the bottom of the third inning when they scored three more runs. Catcher Mason Speirs hit a three-run bomb that scored designated hitter Weiler and Hunter. This gave the REX all the momentum they needed. Wabash Valley's Own scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mulcahy knocked in Albers on an RBI single. The REX won the game 8-6! The winning pitcher was Rogers and pitcher Jacob Frankel got the save!
The REX finished the week off with the second game of the double-header against the Lafayette Aviators on July 7. The Aviators scored two in the top of the first to give them an early 2-0 lead. The REX came back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning. Left fielder Beck scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Indlecoffer. Then both third baseman Mulcahy and designated hitter Weiler scored on an error by the Aviators' shortstop, Trey Sweeney. The REX crossed home again in the bottom of the second inning when Muclahy knocked in Beck on an RBI single. The REX continued their barrage on offense. They scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when the Terre Haute native and center fielder Jenkins went yard with a two run home run!
The REX did not stop there as they kept pouring in runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as well! Weiler scored again on an RBI by shortstop Hunter who was also able to reach first on a fielder’s choice. Hunter and catcher Brayden Frazier were then able to score as well. Hunter reached home on a sacrifice fly by Beck, while Frazier was able to score on an error by the Aviators’ center fielder, Zach Schwartzenberger. The Aviators made a valiant comeback attempt in the top of the sixth inning when they scored four runs, but “don’t call it a comeback” LL Cool J, because the REX held the Aviators scoreless in the seventh inning to win the game 9-6! The winning pitcher for the REX was Garrett Welch and pitcher Panaranto got the save.
The REX started this week off with a game against the Danville Dans, the team with the best record in the Prospect league. On Tuesday July 9, the REX showed the Dans what they were made of. They were able to score three runs while shutting out the Dans with some masterful pitching. Starting pitcher Tommy Sommer went five innings. He only allowed two hits and had seven strike outs. Second baseman Albers scored in the top of the fifth inning on a double by center fielder Jenkins. Then, in the sixth inning right fielder Harris scored on an RBI by designated hitter Indlecoffer. Weiler was also able to score in the sixth inning. The 3-0 victory gave the REX their seventh straight win! The winning pitcher was Sommer and Panaranto got yet another save. Panaranto has continued his great season with the REX as he now has a record of 7-1 with five saves and an ERA of 2.28 in thirteen appearances!
The REX have really turned this season around and could use your help to continue their winning ways! Help Wabash Valley's Own continue to climb in the standings by coming out tonight, Wednesday, July 10, at Bob Warn Field as your home town team takes on the league leading Danville Dans again at 7:05 p.m. EST! There will be a cooler giveaway tonight for one lucky fan which is sponsored by Indiana Railroad and the first 500 kids get in free! Once you are there make sure to stop by the Indiana Railroad Safety table to try to win some prizes! We look forward to seeing you at the game tonight to support our boys! GO #REXNation!