FARMINGTON – The Midland Redbirds wasted little time advancing to the final four of the Connie Mack World Series, dispatching the NW 509 Stars 9-0 in a five-inning mercy-rule victory Thursday afternoon at Ricketts Park.
The Redbirds scored in every inning while limiting the Stars to just two hits.
Midland will await the results of Thursday’s evening doubleheader before learning its opponent for Friday’s fifth round, which could feature potential championship matchups.
Jax Robinson and Trey Giametta kicked off the scoring for the Redbirds in the top of the first inning. Robinson singled with two outs and scored on Giametta’s double to left-center field. Cole Flashnick followed with an RBI single to right to give Midland an early 2-0 cushion.
The Redbirds added two more in the top of the second. Gianni Corral walked, advanced on a pair of passed balls and scored on Ethan Carswell’s single to left. Lale Esquivel then walked and came home on Robinson’s sacrifice fly.
Redbirds starting pitcher Jacoby Dutchover worked into trouble in the bottom of the second, walking three straight batters with two outs. But Dutchover escaped the jam by striking out Dallin Higgins to keep the Redbirds ahead 4-0.
Stars starting pitcher Braylon Edwards lasted just two innings before Ryen McMillen took the mound in relief. Corral greeted McMillen with a two-run single to drive in Flashnick and Easton Autrey, extending the lead to 6-0.
“All the way around, we made some really nice defensive plays, pitch-wise we pitched well in some big moments, and we got some big hits,” Redbirds head coach Heath Autrey said.
Midland added a run in the top of the fourth after Jackson Harris singled with one out, stole a base, advanced to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly to left.
With a 7-0 lead, Dutchover continued to stymie the Stars. The right-hander struck out four of the next nine batters he faced and allowed just one hit through four innings.
The Redbirds sealed the victory with two runs in the top of the fifth on Max Woerner’s two-run single that scored Easton Autrey and Corral.
Dutchover completed the shutout when Derrek Roe flew out to right field to end the game. Dutchover finished the afternoon allowing two hits and five walks while striking out seven.
Coach Autrey commended his staff for helping Dutchover adjust his approach early in the contest.
“Coach (Mike) McGaha made a really good adjustment with (Dutchover), with his stride, and shortening his stride up a little bit,” Autrey said. “That really helped him. And he was effectively wild there early, but he made some really big pitches, got a couple double-play balls in there in some big moments.”
The loss eliminates the Stars from the tournament, while the Redbirds stave off elimination for the second straight game and advance to Friday’s final four.