New Carlisle Newts Start Off 2008 Season Right with Victory Over Lil' Saints

The New Carlisle Newts started off their 2008 campaign the right way with a three-game sweep of the Lil' Saints on Opening Day at Migley Field.

Off-season acquisition Marc Lindsey went 4-for-5 with a home run and three runs in the opener, which the Newts won 5-2.

Matt Flagg went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in. He was also the winning pitcher giving up two runs on seven hits in five innings of work. He left the game with a 2.00 ERA.

Zac Wilson started the game off right for the Saints with a lead-off home run. Wilson went 5-for-5 on the game. He was later driven in by Jeff Vervynckt for his second run of the game.

"After the leadoff home run, (Flagg) settled down and was just fine," said Newts’ manager Koby Keck.  "I'm considering keeping him at the leadoff spot, even when Garrett (Curless) comes back, but I'm not too sure about that. He just places the ball wherever he wants to."

The Newts went on a hitting spree in the second game, a 20-3 win. They pounded out 18 runs on 21 hits against Nick Poplawski (0-1, 27.00 ERA) in the first four innings.

"It was sort of shocking for us to hit five home runs on a day like today," Koby Keck said. "I thought Flagg and I did a pretty good job of getting on base for Marc and Kaylor and even (Adam) Rehlander in the second game."

Once again, Flagg posted great numbers, hitting 6-for-8, scoring five times and driving one runner in.

Lindsey only managed three hits in the second game, but he drove in seven runners while Kaylor Keck (1-0, 2.40 ERA) drove in five and got the win on the mound. Koby Keck pitched one scoreless inning to finish off the Saints.

Kaylor Keck drove in all three runs for the Newts in the third game, which the Newts won 3-0. Flagg went 4-for-5 on the game to end the day with a .722 batting average.

Lindsey (1-0, 0.00 ERA) pitched a complete game shutout against the Saints in the game, giving up only three hits and striking out three batters.

"That's why we got him, I guess," Koby Keck said of Lindsey. "The shutout was a plus. We got him for his bat, mainly. For him to hit three home runs through the teeth of the wind was obviously huge for our offense to get going."

Jarek Hollingsworth (0-1, 4.00 ERA) took the loss on the mound for the Saints, while Jimmy Garis pitched one inning's worth of relief, lowering his ERA to 6.00.

The Newts will head to Bus Garage Field next week to face Phat Dong, while the Saints will enjoy their first home series of the year against 1-2-3 Swat.