CARROLLTON, TX – The Redbirds (50+) put on an offensive clinic at McInnish Sports Complex on Saturday, overpowering the Diablos with a dominant 16-6 victory. Kevin Fought led the charge, going 3-for-4 with a triple, two singles, and five runs scored. His stellar performance at the plate helped fuel a relentless Redbirds offense that pounded out 15 hits and delivered two massive innings to put the game away.
The Redbirds wasted no time seizing control, striking early in the first inning. John Mahalik got things started with a two-run double that brought home Fought and Rich Beller. Chris Cec followed with a groundout that plated another run, giving the Redbirds a 3-0 lead. The Diablos responded in the top of the second, capitalizing on a pair of walks to cut the deficit to 3-2, but the Redbirds answered right back in the bottom half. Fought ripped an RBI single down the left-field line, followed by Beller crushing an RBI triple to center, stretching the lead to 5-2.
After a scoreless third, the fourth inning turned into an all-out offensive explosion for the Redbirds. They erupted for six runs on seven hits, blowing the game wide open. Fought ignited the rally with an RBI triple, followed by Beller smashing his second RBI triple of the game. Mahalik kept the momentum going with his second double of the afternoon, bringing in another run. Jerry Gamez followed with an RBI double, while Cec reached on a fielder’s choice that scored another. Paul Maust capped off the inning by taking a pitch to the body with the bases loaded, forcing in yet another run. By the time the dust settled, the Redbirds had built a commanding 11-3 lead.
The Diablos attempted to claw back in the fifth, pushing across three runs to make it 11-6, but Cec held his ground on the mound, limiting the damage. In the bottom of the fifth, the Redbirds delivered the knockout punch with another five-run outburst. Mahalik continued his monster day with his third double, driving in a run. Cec followed with a two-run double of his own, and Lester Bedford sealed the win with a two-run single.
Cec earned the victory on the mound, throwing five innings while allowing just four hits and four earned runs. Despite issuing six walks, he managed to strike out three and keep the Diablos from gaining any real momentum.
With another dominant performance under their belts, the Redbirds now turn their attention to next weekend’s road matchup against Laguneros, where they’ll look to keep their winning streak alive. The offense is firing on all cylinders, and with the way this team is playing, the best may be yet to come.
The Redbirds lineup was unstoppable. Fought finished with three hits, five runs, two RBIs, and a triple. Mahalik delivered three doubles, driving in four runs while scoring three times. Cec matched him with four RBIs, including a key double. Beller was a force in the middle of the order, collecting two triples, two RBIs, and scoring twice. Gamez, Bedford, and Aaron Nowels also contributed key hits to round out a well-balanced offensive attack.
Final score: Redbirds 16, Diablos 6. Redbirds finished with 15 hits to the Diablos’ four. Kevin Fought was the standout performer, racking up three hits, scoring five runs, and driving in two. Mahalik also shined, collecting three doubles and four RBIs in a game that showcased the Redbirds’ depth and dominance.
