Sports
Baseball: Dixon Caps Season with 13-2 Blowout Victory
The Rams score 11 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to end the game with the 10-run mercy rule.
Scott Winslow was glad to see his team manufacture runs the way he thinks it can.
The Dixon High baseball coach was all smiles after the final home game of the year, as the Rams snapped Capital Christian’s three-game win streak with a 13-2 blowout victory on a hot Thursday afternoon.
“They’re swinging the bat they way they’re capable of,” Winslow said. “As a coach, you know they have the capability win, and it all just comes together.”
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Prior to Thursday’s defeat, the Cougars hosted and defeated the Rams on Tuesday 7-4, but with the venues switched for Thursday’s rematch, the final result was flip-flopped as well.
The 10-run mercy rule was enforced in the fifth inning after Christopher Rost’s single drove Ryan Baptiste and Taylor Landis for the last runs of the game. Dixon got plenty of help from the Cougars’ horrid defense, which committed six errors.
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But it was ultimately the Rams timely hitting that made Capital Christian pay for its mistakes on the field.
Dixon took the lead in the bottom of the fourth after Rost led off with a walk and scored on Danny Kitchen’s double. Cougars’ pitcher Brock Hanson would rebound by striking out two, but hit Cooper Nelson and intentionally walked Korey Hall to load the bases.
With Baptiste apparently the batter that Capital Christian wanted to face instead of Hall, Hanson seemed poised to show that walking Hall was the right decision after getting ahead in the count – one ball and two strikes – to Baptiste.
But the Dixon designated hitter fought the count full, made Hall’s intentional walk hurt with a single to center that Cougars’ center fielder Dimitri Cranshaw let pass through his legs, which turned out to be a game-changer. The error led to the bases being cleared and Baptiste advancing to third, giving the Rams a controlling 6-2 lead.
Winslow was glad Baptiste – who’s been regulated to designated hitter’s duties all season – made such an explosive impact.
“I wanted to see him particularly blow it up because being a senior and having to play DH all year because of his injured shoulder, it’s something he’s wanted to do,” Winslow said. “That was huge.”
Dixon starting pitcher Angel Lara allowed two runs in the third inning, but it would be the only frame that he would have difficulty in. Lara went the distance, pitching five innings and giving up just two hits and one walk. Lara struck out the side in the second and fifth innings, and finished with eight strikeouts.
“That was one of his best outings ever…He pitched a beautiful game; his best outing of the year,” Winslow said.
The Rams have completed Golden Empire League play, but will finish the regular season with a non-league matchup against Inderkum of Sacramento next Wednesday at 4:15 p.m.
Dixon isn’t officially eliminated from playoff contention, but needs help to get in. Stay tuned to Dixon Patch over the next few days for updates on the Rams’ playoff hopes.
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