Carson Nolan drives in game-winning run to propel Benton Community baseball past Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON – Carson Nolan doesn’t shy away from pressure situations.

The Benton Community junior welcomes those moments, especially when his teammates are counting on him.

“I feel like I'm pretty clutch,” Nolan said. “I know how to come through in those situations because my team needs me. I always have confidence.”

Nolan’s actions matched his words, belting a two-out, three-run triple in the seventh inning and lifting Class 3A No. 10 Benton to a 4-3 victory over Mount Vernon in a Wamac Conference high school baseball doubleheader Thursday night at Ash Park Field. The second game was halted in the fourth due to rain.

The scenario hasn’t been common this season. Benton Coach Seth Patterson said the Bobcats (20-5, 11-3) haven’t had many close games and he thought it was their first comeback win.

“It’s kind of a new experience, a good experience,” Patterson said. “We need these experiences.”

The late rally was sparked by two walks that bracketed an error on a fielder’s choice. Nolan stepped to the plate with bases loaded and the team’s fate resting on his bat. He fell into a 0-2 hole, worked the count even and fouled off three straight pitchers. He connected on the eighth pitch of the plate appearance, driving in pinch runner Will Schanbacher, Grant Volesky and Mitchell Birdsell.

“He threw me a couple of really slow breaking balls,” Nolan said. “I was kind of on it. I fouled off three or four in a row. Then, I just got one I could handle, ripped it and just see what could happen.”

Nolan grew confident with each pitch. Patterson noticed Nolan became more comfortable as the at-bat progressed.

“Whether it was a fastball or breaking ball, he was adjusting to both of them,” Patterson said. “He came up and made a good swing.”

Nolan struck out in his two previous at-bats. He continued to focus on the next opportunity to help the team.

”My teammates did a good job of picking me up,” said Nolan, who tied Drew Fillenworth with a team-best 25 RBIs this season. “So, that helps me a lot and making plays in the outfield helps too.”

Patterson said Nolan isn’t a rah-rah type but has emerged as a leader by example.

“He’s a quiet leader,” Patterson said. “He does everything the right way. Nobody hustles as hard as he does. He holds everyone accountable. Maybe not the most vocal guy but he sure does it by his actions.”

Benton took a 1-0 lead thanks to two Mustang errors in the first two at-bats of the game. Mount Vernon built a 3-1 lead, getting an RBI single from Erik Lamb that drove in Greg Swartzendruber. An error plated Michael Ryan in the fourth and Swartzendruber scored on Kellen Haverback’s fifth-inning single.

Grady Frese retired the final three batters of the game, stranding the tying run in scoring position and earning the save.

“It shows us we can battle through adversity, which is good,” Nolan said. “It’s what we need.”

The Bobcats victory spoiled a strong start by Mount Vernon’s A.J. McDermott, who allowed one unearned run on just two hits in six innings. Swartzendruber and Ryan had two hits apiece to lead the Mustangs (11-12).

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