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Soos Flirts with Perfection as Newts Climb into First
[Parts of this article have been altered from it's original publishing. Visit ncnewts.com for the full report.]
NEW CARLISLE - It took until the midway point in the regular season, but the Newts have finally climbed to the top of the National League Eastern Division standings with a sweep of the Lynn Street Leprechauns, 9-3, 7-2, 4-1.
New Carlisle has now won six straight games and seven of their last eight after starting the season 1-3.
For the second consecutive week wet conditions hampered offensive output, but much like their series at Scottsdale, the Newts lived up to their semiaquatic name.
Led by Scott Soos in series opener, the Newts pounded out seven home runs. Soos was 5-for-5 in the game with three long balls.
Noah Shail went deep twice, while the Newts also received runs from solo blasts by Matt Went and Garrett Curless.
Newts starter Koby Keck scattered five hits and allowed just three runs in five innings of work, while Shail worked the final inning for the wiffleball save.
Game two saw the season debut of Jay Ryans. Ryans did it all for the Newts, belting two home runs at the plate and providing a quality start on the mound. He allowed just one run on three hits in five innings.
Curless added two more dingers and Danny Hernandez joined the fun with a home run in the third.
Shail again worked the sixth to lock it down.
In the finale, Soos took the ball and flirted with history. He sat down the first 15 Leprechaun batters he faced, carrying a perfect game into the final inning.
With the Newts leading 4-0, Nick Wilson led off the sixth with a home run to break up the no-hit bid.
Shail entered to retire the final three batters to earn a more traditional save and complete the combined one-hitter.
Soos provided all the offense the Newts would need, a solo home run in the first, and he tacked another one on in the fifth.
Sean Touhey got his name in the box score with a two-run bomb in his first plate appearance.
New Carlisle heads to Sage Road to face the Sinners at 1:00pm on June 2 and will return home to Migley Field on Sunday, June 9 to face the Maple City Magic in an interleague series at 1:20pm.
Lynn Street, on the other hand. will continue their grueling 12-game road trip next week as they'll travel to Scottsdale to take on the Sluggers. After starting 4-0, Lynn Street finds themselves on an 8 game losing streak.
