Richard Carlson helped visiting South Beloit build a 5-0 lead on Orangeville/Aquin through 2 1-2 innings of Monday’s IHSA 1A regional opener at Orangeville.
The question became, was it enough for the SoBos to save some wear-and-tear on their young ace?
The good news is that South Beloit (6-14) advanced with a 17-6 victory that featured two home runs by Carlson, including a grand slam in a 10-run seventh inning. The 10th-seeded SoBos play regional host Lena-Winslow at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The bad news was that Carlson did end up throwing all seven innings.
The right-hander had pitched two scoreless innings and had struck out seven, including the first batter in the third inning when JT Sanders came on in relief at that point. Orangeville/Aquin quickly rallied for three runs to make it a 5-3 game.
Carlson, who had moved to first when Sanders came in, went back to the mound and got three outs, the final one with a strikeout.
South Beloit pushed across a run in the fourth inning on Carlson’s solo homer, but the hosts tacked on three in the bottom of the inning to tie it.
The SoBos went back in front 7-6 in the fifth when Andrew Kaehler drew a walk and scored on a double to right by Sanders.
Carlson was re-energized in the fifth, striking out the side on 11 pitches.
The SoBos loaded the bases in the sixth, but came away empty-handed. Carlson then retired the side in order in the sixth, chalking up his 12th strikeout.
South Beloit blew the game open in the seventh, scoring 10 runs. Sanders was hit by a pitch leading off and Carlson singled to send him to third. Jonah Martinez walked to load the bases. After a pop-up to the first baseman, Gage Pasiecznik coaxed a walk to force in a run. Reece Binger followed with a single to score Carlson and Jacob Wilhite drew a walk to score another run. Orangeville/Aquin changed pitchers, but hit Kayden Ellis with a pitch to score the fourth run of the inning and Kaehler then belted an RBI single to push it to 12-6.
Sanders added an RBI single before Carlson belted his grand slam. He finished the day 4-for-5 with four runs scored and five RBIs. Sanders, Pasiecznik, Binder and Kaehler all had two hits as the SoBos finished with 14.
Carlson finished with a five-hitter, allowing three earned runs, walking no one and striking out 15. He dominated the bottom five of the batting order. They went 1-for-15 with 10 strikeouts.
• HONONEGAH 8, BELVIDERE NORTH 1: Landen Seymour had a bases-loaded triple, scored twice and knocked in four runs in all as the visiting Indians (21-5-1) scored eight times on three hits. They took advantage of seven bases on balls and three errors by the Blue Thunder.
The Indians had a pair of four-run innings, in the second and third. Belvidere North got its lone run in the fifth. Austin Dresser and Evan Sayles also collected hits for the Indians and Logan Edward scored twice.
Ian Blankenship picked up the win, working 4 2-3 innings and allowing five hits and one earned run. He walked one and struck out three. Luke DeLeo came on to pitch 1 1-3 scoreless innings.
• LINESCORE:
SOUTH BELOIT 17, ORANGEVILLE/AQUIN 6
South Beloit 401 110 (10) — 1714 4
Orangeville/A 003 300 0— 6 8 0
Leading hitters: SB, Sanders 2x3, 3 runs, 2 rbi; Carlson 4x5, 4 runs, 5 rbi; Martinez 1x4, 2 runs; Pasiecznik 2x3, 2 runs, 1 rbi; Binder 2x4, 1 run, 3 rbi; Wilhite 1x1, 1 run, 2 rbi; Kaehler 2x4, 2 runs, 1 rbi. O/A, Roth 2x4, 2 runs; Gustafson 2x4, 2 runs, 2 rbi; Briggs 3x4, 2 rbi. 2B: Sanders. HR: Carlson 2.
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): SB, Carlson (W) 7.0-5-3-3-0-15; Sanders 0.0-3-3-3-2-0.
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