Cardinals Sweep Roadrunners To Open Region 16 Play
The Mineral Area College Cardinals baseball team put on an impressive display as they faced off against the State Fair Community College Roadrunners in a four-game series to open their Region 16 schedule. The Cardinals won all four games by scores of 15-3, 15-4, 11-5, and 7-5.
Game 1: February 28, 2025 – MAC 15, State Fair 3
The series began with a high-scoring affair at Mineral Area College, where the Cardinals flexed their offensive power, clinching a 15-3 win. Mineral Area wasted no time, jumping ahead with a four-run fifth inning, followed by five more runs in the sixth inning to seal the victory. The Cardinals finished with 16 hits, led by standout performances from Cam Lee, who hit a home run and drove in three RBIs, and Garrison Barile, who knocked in four RBIs with a home run. Kelly Robertson Jr. also impressed with two RBIs, including a home run.
On the mound, Jonah Sarabia (3-0) earned the win, pitching five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out five batters. Max Hartmann came in for one inning, allowing just one hit and no runs to close out the game.
Game 2: February 28, 2025 – MAC 15, State Fair 4
In the second game of the series, the Cardinals continued their offensive explosion, securing another dominant win, 15-4. This time, the Cardinals were led by Cam Lee's three RBIs and Brad Chaisson's four RBIs, as they capitalized on several Roadrunner mistakes and hit four home runs in the game. The home run hitters included Barile, who had his second home run of the day, and Carson McCaleb, who also hit a home run.
Game 3: March 1, 2025 – MAC 11, State Fair 5
The third game was a closer affair, but the Cardinals held firm to earn an 11-5 win. The game was highlighted by a strong four-RBI performance from Brad Chaisson, who added two doubles to his stat line. Chaisson's consistent bat helped the Cardinals overcome a two-run deficit after the second inning and pull away for the win.
Mineral Area's offense was explosive as usual, with Kelly Robertson Jr., Cam Lee, and Garrison Barile contributing two hits each. Chaisson's bat was crucial, as his doubles and RBIs provided the cushion the Cardinals needed. On the mound, Kai Langford (3-1) earned the win, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and four runs, while striking out four.
Game 4: March 1, 2025 – MAC 7, State Fair 5
In the final game of the series, the Cardinals secured a 7-5 victory to complete the four-game sweep. The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning and one in the second, giving them a comfortable lead heading into the later innings. However, State Fair rallied in the third inning with three runs, and again in the sixth with two more runs, but could not get over the hump.
Mineral Area's offense was once again led by Cam Lee, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Kelly Robertson Jr. added three hits, and Noah Cassie drove in three runs in a solid outing. The pitching staff continued its dominant play, with Aiden Dodson and Kolten Payne leading the way. Payne earned his first save of the season with three innings of shutout ball, striking out four Roadrunners.
Offensive Stat Leaders
Mineral Area College Cardinals
- Cam Lee: 7 RBIs, 2 home runs, 4 runs, 7 hits.
- Brad Chaisson: 8 RBIs, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 5 hits.
- Garrison Barile: 7 RBIs, 2 home runs, 5 runs, 5 hits.
- Kelly Robertson Jr.: 4 RBIs, 1 home run, 5 hits, 3 runs.
With the 4-game sweep over State Fair, the Cardinals improve to 12-3 overall and begin Region 16 play with a 4-0 record. MAC will return to action on Thursday, March 6 when they travel to St. Louis CC for two more Region 16 games starting at noon.