2016 Reds Outlast Favored Orioles to Capture North Texas 45+ Masters Division

North Texas Amateur Baseball League, 45+ Masters Division

Caddo Reds 5, Dallas Orioles 3

‘Reds Sixth Inning Charge Upends Dallas Orioles’

Submitted by Gerry Mecca, NTABL

A tight game was decided in the sixth inning as the Dallas Orioles fell to the Caddo Reds 5-3 in seven innings at Reverchon Park. Jerry Gamez racked up two RBIs on two hits for the Dallas Orioles. He singled in the first inning and doubled in the fifth inning to give the Orioles a brief come from behind lead.

Lincoln Mikkelsen recorded the win for the Caddo Reds. He allowed three runs over seven innings. Mikkelsen struck out five, walked one and gave up 10 hits. Bill Downing ended up on the wrong side of the pitching decision, charged with the loss. He lasted seven innings, walked six, struck out five, and allowed five runs.

The top of the first saw the Caddo Reds take an early lead, 2-0. Mikkelsen kicked things off for the Caddo Reds with a single. A single by Dan Sosa then moved Mikkelsen from first to second then Tony Sanchez singled, plating Mikkelsen. The Caddo Reds then tacked on more runs when Sosa scored on an error. The Caddo Reds went up for good in the sixth, scoring three runs on two singles including a game winner from Mikkelsen.

The Orioles entered the postseason as the favorite, finishing the season 15-1 including wins over the Reds. But the Reds prevailed after the Orioles and Reds split the first two postseason meetings.

Mikkelsen was the Reds workhorse going the distance in all three games and was the defacto postseason MVP for the Reds.