Heading into last night at Bob Warn Field, REX Baseball was looking to get back to a .500 record against the Champion City Kings. The Kings on the other hand were looking to improve on their 7-4 record as the leaders of the Ohio River Valley Division. It was also giveaway night at the ballpark as one lucky fan went home with a new Flat Screen TV!
The Kings jumped on REX starting pitcher Brayton Reed early, as center fielder Chase Carney swung at the first pitch and hit a home run to start off the game. Reed was able to get out of the first inning without allowing anymore damage. The REX tied it up in the bottom of the second when right fielder Jack Leverenz scored on a ground out by shortstop Kody Putnam. Things went south for the REX in the top of the fourth when Carney struck again, but this time he hit a Grand Slam to give the Kings a 5-1 lead over the REX.
The REX bats finally started to heat up in the bottom of the fifth. Designated hitter Nate Wolf hit an RBI single that scored first baseman Rob Weissheier. Leverenz came up to the batter’s box next and hit a three-run home run to tie the game at five! It was his first home run of the year. The Kings were able to take the lead back in the top of the sixth when catcher Alex Finney scored on an error by the REX. Down one in the bottom of the sixth, Wabash Valley’s Own were ready to finish the comeback. Terre Haute native Kaleb Hannahs started off the inning with a solo shot over the left field wall in his first game with the REX. His home run tied the game at six. Later in the inning, Leverenz continued his spectacular night. With the bases loaded, he hit a two RBI single to give the REX an 8-6 lead.
Through six innings there had already been four home runs combined between the REX and the Kings, but there would still be one more. Weissheier hit the fifth home run of the game with a solo shot that hit the banners in left field. With only two innings left to go, the REX lead was 9-6. The Kings were able to add one more run in the ninth, but they could not rally and fell to the REX 9-7. The wining pitcher for the REX was Dane Sykes and pitcher Alex Reinoehl was credited with the save.
The REX play the Kings again tonight, but this time in Springfield, OH at 6:35 PM EST. The REX are back at Bob Warn Field on Friday to take on the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. Ruoff Home Mortgage will be giving away one boy’s bike and one girl’s bike to two lucky fans.
GO REX!