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Siegel baseball picks up key sweep over Stewarts Creek





Stewarts Creek's Austin Wooten delivers a pitch against Siegel. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek’s Austin Wooten delivers a pitch against Siegel. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

SMYRNA — After suffering its first district losses of the season last week at the hands of Riverdale, Siegel paid it forward by dealing the Stewarts Creek Red Hawks their first and second district losses of the season.

The Stars won 5-2 at home Tuesday and 2-0 Wednesday night at Stewarts Creek.

“We knew we needed to win these two to get back in the mix of things,” Siegel winning pitcher Jack Nedrow said after Wednesday’s victory. “We were fighting for the one-seed again and we were motivated after being swept by Riverdale last week to come out and take two games, and we did what we needed to do.”

The tale of the tape from Thursday’s matchup was short and sweet. Nedrow and the Red Hawks’ Austin Wooten personified the rivalry between these two teams in an epic pitcher’s duel. In complete-game efforts for both pitchers, each retired six of the last seven batters they faced.

In his win Nedrow struck out nine, with just four hits and a walk allowed.

Stewarts Creek's Bryce Jackson tags Siegel's Ronald Whitmore out at third base during their game at Stewarts Creek Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek’s Bryce Jackson tags Siegel’s Ronald Whitmore out at third base during their game at Stewarts Creek Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

“My sophomore year I got shelled by them (Stewarts Creek),” Nedrow recalled. “So it felt good to come out here and redeem myself a little.”

In the loss Wooten had an almost identical stat line, yielding three hits and three walks to go with seven strikeouts. After facing six batters in the first inning, Wooten only faced three above the minimum for the remaining six innings.

“It’s easy to throw a lot of strikes when you have a great defense behind you,” Wooten said. “You just let them (Siegel) put the ball in play and trust your guys are going to make the plays.

“It is definitely a confidence booster to have a lead, but you have to have confidence they (your teammates) will bring you back in the game. Even when they don’t you just have to look toward the next day.”

The difference in the game was the first inning, when despite only one hit and a hit batsman, the Stars were able to move base runners on errors and plate the game’s only runs. Siegel’s Dylan Taylor had the only RBI in the game.

Siegel's Braxton Baird makes it back to first as Stewarts Creek's Devyn McEachron waits for the ball during their game Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel’s Braxton Baird makes it back to first as Stewarts Creek’s Devyn McEachron waits for the ball during their game Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Having a two-run lead before ever taking the mound was “huge” in such an intense bout between pitchers, according to Nedrow.

“I was feeling pretty good today and knew if I threw strikes my defense would have my back and we could scratch enough runs for a win,” Nedrow said. “Going into that first inning was awesome having two runs at my back already.”

With the new district scheduling and the split into two divisions the teams are now entering the inter-divisional play where they will play three-game series, whereas in the first half all the matchups with cross-divisional teams have been just two games.

Siegel enters the second half with a one-game lead over Oakland, and as a result of the sweep, the Red Hawks were knocked out of first and are one game back of Riverdale.

Siegel's Dylan Taylor catches a foul ball during the Stars' game at Stewarts Creek on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel’s Dylan Taylor catches a foul ball during the Stars’ game at Stewarts Creek on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek's Brett Vondohlen throws to first during the Red Hawks' game at home against Siegel on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek’s Brett Vondohlen throws to first during the Red Hawks’ game at home against Siegel on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel's Ronald Whitmore takes a swing during the Stars' game at Stewarts Creek Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel’s Ronald Whitmore takes a swing during the Stars’ game at Stewarts Creek Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek's Brett Vondohlen throws to first during the Red Hawks' game game at home against Siegel on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek’s Brett Vondohlen throws to first during the Red Hawks’ game game at home against Siegel on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel's Tucker Ross makes the throw for an out to Siegel's Dylan Taylor at first base during their game at Stewarts Creek on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel’s Tucker Ross makes the throw for an out to Siegel’s Dylan Taylor at first base during their game at Stewarts Creek on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek and Siegel line the field during the National Anthem before Wednesday's home game against Siegel. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek and Siegel line the field during the National Anthem before Wednesday’s home game against Siegel. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel's Braxton Baird tries to turn a double play after forcing Stewarts Creek's Maddux Leebrick out at second during the Stars' game at Stewarts Creek on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel’s Braxton Baird tries to turn a double play after forcing Stewarts Creek’s Maddux Leebrick out at second during the Stars’ game at Stewarts Creek on Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek's head coach Mike Bartlett talks with an umpire over a call at first  base during the Red Hawks' game against Siegel at home on Wednesday. Harrison McClary

Stewarts Creek’s head coach Mike Bartlett talks with an umpire over a call at first  base during the Red Hawks’ game against Siegel at home on Wednesday. Harrison McClary

Stewarts Creek's Devyn McEachron looks to throw to second after getting Siegel's Dylan Taylor out at first during the Red Hawks' home game on Wedneday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek’s Devyn McEachron looks to throw to second after getting Siegel’s Dylan Taylor out at first during the Red Hawks’ home game on Wedneday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel's Braxton Baird makes the throw to first during the Stars' game at Stewarts Creek Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Siegel’s Braxton Baird makes the throw to first during the Stars’ game at Stewarts Creek Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek's Brett Vondohlen is tagged out at first during the Red Hawks' home game against Siegel Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

Stewarts Creek’s Brett Vondohlen is tagged out at first during the Red Hawks’ home game against Siegel Wednesday. HARRISON MCCLARYHarrison McClary

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