SpringfieldNewsSun.com

MADISON TWP. — It's hard to keep a good team down, and the Carlisle Indians exemplified that big time Tuesday, April 29.

After giving up a two-run homer early, Carlisle rallied for a 6-3 win at Madison High School.

Carlisle didn't win the game so much because of its strong hitting or pitching, but more so because of its defense. That was particularly evident in the fifth inning.

Madison's Mike Roe led off the inning with a hard single into left. He went to second on Steve Johnson's walk, then Roe and Johnson advanced when Zach Hembree was hit by a Kyle England pitch.

The plate was set. Trailing

4-3, Madison had the bases loaded with nobody out. But that's when Carlisle's defense came up big and snuffed out the last Mohawk threat.

Madison designated hitter Rusty Bernard hit a blast up the middle that on most days would've likely killed a few worms on its way into center field.

The worms were safe on this day, though.

England snared the shot and quickly fired home to Indians catcher Jake Lamb to force Roe at the plate. Lamb then rifled a perfect shot to first baseman James Bishop to throw Bernard out for a 1-2-3 double play. England got the next batter to hit a fly ball to center, stranding Johnson on third and Hembree at second.

"That was a lucky stop on my part," England said. "I just happened to be there at the right time."

England said the bang-bang-bang play got his teammates fired up a bit from that point on.

Madison coach Bob Evick agreed.

"Rusty hit the ball hard, but their pitcher made a nice play and suddenly it's a 1-2-3 double play and we're about done in the inning with nothing to show for it," Evick said.

"We hit the ball hard, Mike (Roe) pitched a good game, but they played better defense. And that was the difference tonight," he added.

Madison's Andy McCoppin put the Mohawks (11-6, 8-3 Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division) on the board first. With Ryan Manley on base with a lead-off walk, McCoppin smacked a home run off England to give Madison a 2-0 lead.

Carlisle responded with four runs in the top of the second inning, and not one ball went into the Mohawk outfield.

Carlisle (17-5, 8-1 SWBL Buckeye) also scored two runs in the sixth on singles by Joe Profitt and Jake Parrish to salt things away. Meanwhile, England and the Carlisle defense limited Madison to one hit the rest of the way.

"Roe is one of the best pitchers we've seen all year. Any time you face a kid like that, you're in for a long day. You just have to grind your way through it," Carlisle coach Brad Sizemore said. "That double play though. If they get a hit in that situation, it could've changed the whole complex of the game right there."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851

or jbombatch@coxohio.com.

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