Racer baseball finished their 2023 season with a 28-10 record overall and as Bi-District Champions, before losing two games to Lone Grove at Regionals. The Racers were second in District 4A-1 with a District record of 12-4, just behind Tuttle, 14-0.
Opening the Regional Tournament on Thursday, Newcastle beat Clinton 16-7. In game two, they lost to Lone Grove, 0-10. The Racers came back in game three to beat Bridge Creek, 9-2, but then lost their final game to Lone Grove, 172. REGIONALS GAME 1 - CLINTON
Newcastle weathered a scare by the Clinton Red Tornadoes in the fifth inning when the Racers coughed up four runs, but Newcastle still won 16-7.
There was plenty of action on the base paths as Newcastle collected 12 hits and Clinton had nine.
Newcastle pulled away for good with one run in the third inning when Jackson Schanuel’s sacrifice fly scored one run for the Racers.
The Racers put up eight runs in the fifth inning thanks to walks by Schanuel, James Folsom, Lane Seaton, Logan Wade and Taj Smith, a single by Tyler Frazier, and an error on a ball put in play by Randy Nix.
Trey Crossley was credited with the victory for Newcastle. The fireballer lasted two innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out three and walking zero. Jackson Robertson, Connor Leader, and Josh Langford all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.
Newcastle tallied one home run on the day when Landon Eastep went deep in the second inning. The Racers tallied 12 hits total in the game with Frazier, Wade, Eastep, and Alex Logan all having multiple hits. Frazier led the Racers with three hits in six at bats.
REGIONALS GAME 2 - LONE GROVE Newcastle fell behind early and couldn’t come back in a 10-0 loss to the Lone Grove Longhorns. Lone Grove scored on a fielder’s choice by Cale Sudderth and a single by Cale McLean in the first inning.
The Racers struggled to contain the high-powered Lone Grove offense giving up 10 runs.
Logan Wade was on the hill for Newcastle, going one inning, allowing two runs on one hit and striking out one. Alex Logan threw four and two-thirds innings in relief.
Newcastle didn’t commit a single error in the field. Crossley had the most chances with six.
REGIONALS GAME 3 BRIDGE CREEK The Racers put up five runs in the fifth inning on their way to the 9-2 victory over Bridge Creek on Friday. Logan, Eastep, Frazier, and Wade each drove in runs during the inning.
The Racers opened up scoring in the first inning when James Folsom’s sacrifice fly scored one run. The fifth inning runs came from Logan, Eastep, Frazier, and Wade, who each had RBIs.
Schanuel pitched the Racers to victory. The bulldog allowed six hits and two runs over five and a third innings, striking out four. Crossley threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen.
The Racers had a total of nine hits in the game. Frazier and Wade each had multiple hits with Frazier leading the Racers going three for three.
REGIONALS GAME 4 - LONE GROVE Newcastle fell behind early and couldn’t come back in the 17-2 loss to Lone Grove on Friday. The Longhorns took the lead on a home run in the first inning.
The Racers struggled to contain the high-powered offense of Lone Grove giving up 17 runs. The Longhorns got on the board in the first inning when Jaxon Lee drove in two on a Lee homer.
Lone Grove scored seven runs in the seventh inning.
Wade was on the pitcher’s mound for Newcastle going four innings, allowing six runs on four hits, and striking out five. Robertson and Frazier entered the game as relief, throwing two innings and one inning respectively.
Folsom, Logan, Seaton, Wade, and Nix each collected a hit for the Racers.
(Game excerpts: Powered by Narrative Science and Gamechanger Media. Copyright 2023)
