PAXTON – The Paxton Swedes dealt with more than the Arcola High Power in their Eastern Illinois Baseball League doubleheader on Sunday.
They also dealt with a not-so-envious combination of a heat advisory at Memorial Field along with a lack of depth as manager Mark Prina was one of only two substitutes available for Game 1 and the only substitute available for Game 2.
Nevertheless, the Swedes took care of business against last-place Arcola, winning 13-3 in Game 1 and 15-5 in Game 2.
“It was a hot day. At least there was some breeze today,” Prina said. “On hot days, we need everybody so people don’t need to play both games. We took care of business and did what we had to do. We’ll just keep showing up with the guys we’ve got and keep competing. I like the nucleus of guys we’ve got that keep showing up.”
The Swedes (4-4) overcame a 5-3 deficit in Game 2 with 12 runs scored with two outs in the fourth inning.
“We had a lot of two-out hits,” Prina said. “Anytime you get two-out hits, it’s a backbreaker for the other team. It takes the momentum out of the other team’s dugout.”
Nolan Remole walked with one out before Alex Barney drew a two-out walk and Thomas Schwartz sent Remole home with a bloop single into left field. A two-RBI single hit to left field by Caleb Atwood gave the Swedes a 6-5 lead.
Griffin Walters hit a bloop single to left field to send a run home before Johnny Rodeen hit an RBI single to center field. After Gavin Schunke was hit by a pitch, Bryar Cosgrove hit a single through the middle of the infield to drive in another run. Remole then hit another RBI single before Dalton Busboom drew a hit-by-pitch.
Barney hit an RBI infield single before two runs scored on an error on a ground ball hit by Schwartz. Atwood and Walters each drew a walk before a run scored on a wild pitch.
“They got a little tired and ran out of arms. Their pitcher threw too many pitches and got tired,” Prina said. “They kind of shot themselves in the foot a little bit in that inning. They had a couple of plays they didn’t make that cost them. We had some guys hit the ball pretty well today in both games. That’s a good sign. It was a good day to hit.”
Cosgrove drew a leadoff walk in the first inning before Busboom hit an RBI double to center field and scored on an error on a Barney ground ball.
Arcola (0-8) hit an RBI triple and a run-scoring single to tie the game at 2-2 in the second inning before taking the lead in the top of the third inning with a two-RBI double.
In the bottom of the third inning, Busboom drew a leadoff walk and Barney was hit by a pitch before Busboom scored on a fielder’s choice ground ball hit by Atwood to cut Paxton’s deficit to 4-3. In the top of the fourth inning, an error led to an RBI single to extend Arcola’s lead to 5-3.
“We’ve got some things we need to clean up defensively,” Prina said. “Arcola gave us a little scare in that second game. They had us on the ropes a little bit. I give them credit. They’re a little bit better and they competed today. Arcola swung the bat alright. They’ve got some guys who can put the bat on the ball pretty well.”
***
The Swedes took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of Game 1.
Remole, Busboom and Barney each singled to load the bases with one out before Remole scored on a wild pitch and Schwartz sent Busboom home with a base hit to right field.
In the third inning, Paxton extended its lead to 8-0 with six runs.
Schwartz doubled to center field with one out before Atwood doubled to left field to send Schwartz home. Walters tripled to right field to send Atwood across home plate before scoring on a wild pitch.
Johnny Rodeen drew a walk before Cosgrove and Remole each drew two-out walks to load the bases. Busboom then hit a two-RBI single before Remole scored on a wild pitch.
In the fourth inning, Walters drew a hit-by-pitch with one out before scoring on fielder’s choice ground ball hit by Rodeen.
After Arcola scored three runs – including an RBI double – in the top of the fifth inning, the Swedes tallied three runs of their own in the sixth inning.
Walters drew a leadoff hit-by-pitch and Schunke singled to right field before another base hit to right field was hit by Remole. Busboom sent Schunke home with a base hit to left field.
Barney drew a hit-by-pitch to load the bases before Schwartz was hit by a pitch to drive in a run.
Paxton then clinched the victory via the 10-run rule in the fifth inning as Rodeen hit a one-out bloop single to left field and Schunke drew a walk before Cosgrove hit the game-clinching RBI single to left-center field.
The Swedes finished the doubleheader with a combined 26 hits, including 15 in Game 1.
Schunke hit 3-for-4 and Busboom hit 3-for-5 in Game 1 while Schwartz hit 2-for-3 and Remole hit 2-for-4. In Game 2, Schwartz and Atwood each hit 2-for-3 while Rodeen hit 2-for-4.
“We swung the bats a little better today,” Prina said.
On the mound, Alec Nicholos earned the win as he allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk with six strikeouts through six innings pitched. Caleb Clutteur struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
In Game 2, Schunke allowed five runs on six hits and four walks with six strikeouts in a complete game.
“The pitchers threw very well again,” Prina said.
***
The Swedes will face the Royal Giants (7-1) at Meier Field in St. Joseph at 1 p.m. next Sunday. The Giants will enter the doubleheader in a first-place tie with the Buckley Dutchmasters.
“We’ll find out where we’re at,” Prina said. “They’re a tough team. Hopefully, we’ll play two good ballgames and maybe get a win or two down there. We should have a larger squad there. We’ll need everybody we can to compete with them – all the arms we can get.
“We’re getting better and starting to figure out some things. Hopefully, we can continue to improve each week and maybe knock off Royal and Buckley a couple of games in the second half.”
Game 1
Paxton Swedes 13, Arcola High Power 3
ARC 000 030 0 — 3 7 2
PAX 206 103 1 — 13 15 2
W – Alec Nicholos, 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 6 K, BB. L – Jacob.
Arcola – Tyler 1-4, R. German 1-4, R. Jeremy 3-3, 2 2B. Javier 1-3. Dario 1-3, R..
Paxton – Bryar Cosgrove 1-4, RBI, 2 R. Nolan Remole 2-4, 3 R. Dalton Busboom 3-5, 3 RBIs, R. Alex Barney 1-3. Thomas Schwartz 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, R. Caleb Atwood 1-5, 2B, RBI, R. Griffin Walters 1-3, 3B, 2 R. Johnny Rodeen 1-3, RBI, R. Gavin Schunke 3-4, R.
Game 2
Paxton Swedes 15, Arcola High Power 5
ARC 022 10 — 5 6 1
PAX 201 (12)x — 15 11 2
W – Gavin Schunke, 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 6 K, 4 BB. L – Weeks.
Arcola (0-8) – Danny 2-3, RBI. Jeremy 1-1, 2 BB, 2 R. Francisco 1-3, 3B, RBI, R. Gantel 1-3, 2 RBIs. Davis 1-1, RBI.
Paxton (4-4) – Bryar Cosgrove 1-4, RBI, 2 R. Nolan Remole 1-3, RBI, 2 R. Dalton Busboom 1-2, 2B, RBI, 3 R. Alex Barney 1-1, 2 RBIs, 2 R. Thomas Schwartz 2-3, RBI, 2 R. Caleb Atwood 2-3, 2 RBIs, R. Griffin Walters 1-2, RBIs, R, 2 BB. Johnny Rodeen 2-4, RBI, RBI. Gavin Schunke R.
EASTERN ILLINOIS BASEBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS
Team W-L
Royal Giants 7-1
Buckley Dutchmasters 7-1
Paxton Swedes 4-4
Danville Dirtbags 2-6
Arcola High Power 0-8