2023 Rangers Earn Back-to-Back-to-Back 18+ Titles with Championship Win Over Firedogs in Red River Adult Baseball League
Red River Adult Baseball League, 18+ Division
Elysian Field Rangers 7, Shreveport Firedogs 1
Submitted by David Pratt, League president
SHREVEPORT, La. – The Elysian Fields Rangers rode two exceptional pitching performances to cruise through two playoff rounds and secure their 11th Red River Adult Baseball League 18+ Division Championship in the last 16 seasons. Brandon Goswick tossed a complete game for a 7-1 victory over the Shreveport Firedogs in the final, while Collin Eatman’s complete game 12-1 triumph in the semi-final secured the Rangers ticket to the 2023 championship.
The top-seeded Rangers advanced after defeating the #4 seed Rough Ryders when the 10-run rule limit was enforced to end the contest after seven innings. Eatman pitched all seven frames allowing just one run on three hits and eight strikeouts. The second-seeded Firedogs were propelled into the championship after rallying to best the #3 Giants, 6-5.
Elysian Fields got on the board first in the second inning when consecutive singles by Taylor Wyatt, Shane Goswick, and Brett Roberts plated the first run. Moments later, Dusty Sebren singled in Roberts to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Wyatt pushed another run across in the third inning with a two-out hit.
The Rangers broke the game open in the fifth inning with a four-run outburst that started with two outs and no runners on base. David Pratt kicked off the barrage with a single, the first of five consecutive hitters to reach base. Dustin Russell followed with a double, Damion Mcglothin singled, Wyatt walked and Shane Goswick belted a double in the gap to strike the final blow. The 7-0 advantage would prove plenty for Brandon Goswick on the hill as he allowed only a single run in the ninth inning. He finished with eight punchouts while allowing seven hits.
Pratt, Russell, Wyatt, Shane Goswick, Roberts, and Sebren all tallied two hits in the victory for Elysian Fields. The Firedogs received multi-hit performances from Grayson Mims, Adam Armstrong, and Matthew Buckner. Armstrong’s triple in the ninth drove in Shreveport’s lone run.
The coaching staff of the Rangers selected Collin Eatman as the MVP of the season. The third-year youngster came on strong this year, improving his hitting, fielding and pitching. On the mound, Eatman went 3-0 in three games started, struck out 16 in 19 total innings, and finished with an impressive 0.47 ERA.