Well REX fans we are through one week of the regular season! It was an up and down week for the REX as they ended it with a record of 2-2. They started off the week with their season opener just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away with a two game series against the Danville Dans followed by the home opener series at Bob Warn Field against the Cape Catfish.
The REX started off strong in the season opener on May 30 against the Dans. They defeated the Dans 6-5 on May 31 after it was suspended by a day due to rain delay. The opener was filled with some exciting plays as both Center Fielder Justin Jenkins and Right Fielder Aaron Beck had triples and First Baseman Reed Hjelle had the first REX home run of the season! The winning pitcher for the REX was Garrett Welch. Colten Panaranto got the save.
Game two did not go as well for the REX as they were defeated by the Dans 8-1 in the shortened seven inning game on May 31. The REX put themselves in a hole early by giving up seven runs in the first and were never able to recover. The REX’s lone score came on a home run by Third Baseman Jacob Mulcahy. This was his first dinger of the season and the REX’s second. Starting Pitcher Logan DeWulf was handed the loss and was not able to make it out of the first inning as he allowed the seven runs and was subbed out for JT Baksha.
The REX looked to rebound in the home opener on June 1 against the Cape Catfish in front of an announced home crowd of 662. The REX started out hot by scoring five runs in the second to take an early 5-2 lead, but it was all downhill from there for the hometown team. The Catfish went on to score two in the fourth, the seventh and the eighth. The REX had one more chance in the bottom of the ninth. The REX were down 8-6 and the bases were juiced with one out after both Second Baseman Will Hayes and Jenkins were walked and Beck made it to first after a bad fielder’s choice. Mulcahy stepped up to the plate and was ahead in the count, but Catfish Pitcher Ryan Vogt got the better of him as he forced Mulcahy to hit into a double play ending the game. REX Pitcher Ross Kramer was handed the loss and Hayes led the team with 2 RBIs
After the tough loss from the previous night, the REX were looking to get their revenge on the Catfish on June 2 and it was a fun one for the 464 fans in attendance. Starting REX Pitcher Foster Anshutz put on a show as he allowed no runs and struck out seven in 4.2 innings. There was no score until the bottom of the 7th when Left Fielder Mitchell Garrity hit a long single to knock in Mulcahy and Shortstop Ethan Hunter. The Catfish roared back as they tied the game in the ninth as both Shortstop Ryan Howe and Center Fielder John Behrends scored. So to the bottom of the ninth we went. After a strikeout by Catcher Brayden Frazier, Hunter stepped back up to the plate and boy did the Terre Haute native deliver. He sent one out in deep right field that the Catfish Right Fielder, Wyell Woods, could not catch up to; giving Hunter his first three-bagger of the season. So there the REX were, tie ball game, a man on third, and only one out. That’s when Garrity, who already has two RBIs, stepped back up to the plate. The count was 2-2 and this time the REX would not be denied! Garrity hit one right up the middle to score Hunter and get the REX’s first walk off of the summer! As the fans cheered the rest of the REX players ran onto the field to drench Garrity in some ice cold Gatorade.
So there you have it REX fans. The team ended the week in an amazing and dramatic fashion. The week may have started a bit rocky, but you can expect some more amazing moments from this special team all summer long. The REX’s next home game is Friday June 7 against the Chillicothe Paints at 7:05 pm EST. Make sure to come out as it is both Fireworks Night and Faith and Family Night! We hope to see you there!