In rookie coach Nick Gilmore's first game as skipper, the Dayton Rangers prevailed over the Camden Redlegs 17-4 in an unexpected blowout on Opening Day 2022. This is the most lopsided defeat of the Redlegs on Opening Day since a 21-6 performance to kickoff the 2016 season.

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In an explosive first inning, Gilmore, who led the league with 15 plunkings last season, began the game with a fitting hit-by-pitch to be driven in by a Rob Pederson double only pitches later. Camden Redlegs pitcher Jesse Jones hit the 3-hole Ben Schooler to then allow for Cooper Nolte to reach on one of Camden’s eight errors. With the bases loaded, Eric Becker earned his first RBI of the year with a walk which scored MVPederson. Bases juiced once again, Schooler's swift assistant coaching decision came to fruition with a Kujo 2-RBI single through the right side to increase the lead 5-0. Joe Becker ended the scoring frenzy by grounding out to the shortstop, which did allow for a Kyle Moyer run.

 

The Rangers took the field for the first time in 2022 with 6’5 flamethrower Brandon Saylor on the mound. A rocky start with a walk and an error, Saylor was able to work out of the first inning striking out the veteran Mike Hartman and inducing a flyout to Hall of Famer Chris Flaherty. The Redlegs lone run in the frame came on a balk, marking the first time in franchise history that the first run allowed in a season came on such a play.

 

With an uneventful top and bottom of the 2nd inning, the Rangers began the 3rd inning with a Nolte single. Chris Ridl, still hot from last year, doubled to score Nolte for his second run of the day. In another flashback from last year, Kyle Moyer doubled in Chris which gave the Rangers a touchdown lead. The Redlegs bats came alive in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Long time MVABL’er, Kyle Arend singled up the middle to score Jacob Robinson, who was hit by a pitch. The Redlegs weren’t done, which was proven by Matt Mattice’s RBI single just out of the reach of the outstretched glove of Kyle Moyer in center. Saylor stopped the Redlegs momentum by forcing a weak ground ball right back to him as the Rangers maintained an 8-4 advantage.

 

Going into the fourth, the Rangers could not capitalize on 3 Redleg errors due to a lineout by Gilmore which doubled up rookie Jaret Quinn.  With the thought of longevity in potential ace Brandon Saylor's arm, Gilmore called to the pen for the notorious Redleg dominator, Kenny Owens. Living up to his reputation, Kenny went nearly 1-2-3 which was prevented by a Rangers error.

 

At the top of the fifth inning, the Rangers were able to take advantage of another Redleg error with Nolte scoring his 3rd run on another Ridl hit. Again, Owens shut down the Redlegs in the bottom of the fifth giving up his only hit of the game to Chris Flaherty who added to his triple-digit total of career doubles.

 

With the Redlegs' worst nightmare on the mound, the score did not budge until the top of the 8th, where after a Nolte single, he was able to scamper around the basepaths to eventually score on a wild pitch.

 

The 9th inning was the straw the broke the camels back for the Redlegs.  Joe Becker singled up the middle, advanced on a Quinn groundout and scored on a Mike Seebock single.  Noah Schleintz, hit a missile to the right center gap scoring Seebock for his first career hit. Gilmore scored Schleinitz on a hard groundball which was ultimately ruled an error making the score an astonishing 13-4. After Gilmore scored on a passed ball, Eric Becker reached on an error, then was hit in by Kyle Moyer's second hit of the day. The Ranger wreckage came to close as Kujo walked with the bases loaded and Joe Becker grounded into a double play. In normal Kenny Owens fashion, the Ranger finished his outing with 2 strikeouts and a flyout concluding the game at 17-4.

 

Owens allowed 1 hit and no runs over 6 innings of relief, striking out 5 to earn the victory. 

 

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