Sweet win for Johnson, Carmel

Carmel's Cooper Johnson showed why Mississippi has already offered the junior catcher a baseball scholarship.

Johnson had 2 hits, including a homer, and drove in 4 runs. He also picked off two base runners as he and the Corsairs are ready for a few days off with Easter just a few days away.

Johnson helped Carmel win the candy battle with Hersey 8-1 on Thursday in a game shortened by darkness in Arlington Heights.

"It felt good today at the plate," Johnson said. "He was throwing slow, so I just taped back with my swing."

Johnson got things started for Carmel (3-5) in the top of the first.

After an error and infield hit by Griffin Norton, Johnson belted a 3-2 pitch that cleared the fence in center to give the Corsairs a 3-0 lead.

"I got one of the few fastballs that I got in all my at bats," Johnson said. "I just lifted it and saw it clear the fence."

Johnson then used his arm in the bottom of the inning as Hersey looked to get back into the game.

The Huskies threatened after Will Trossen tripled and Campbell White singled.

But Johnson picked off the next two runners from behind the plate, one at second and one at first, to end the threat.

"It's great having a catcher like Johnson," starting pitcher Chris Baumann said. "He is a great defensive catcher. He has such a strong arm, he can easily gun guys down on the bases."

Johnson said he lives to catch guys in the base paths.

"That is my favorite," Johnson said. "I love catching guys off base. There is nothing like it."

Johnson continued his assault on the Huskies in the second inning.

His RBI single drove in Austin Kanauer, who had doubled. The Corsairs added another run on Joe Santoro's RBI single to make it 5-1.

Carmel added single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to increase the lead to 8-1.

Matt Collins doubled to lead off the third. He stole third base and scored on Connor Pett's ground out.

The Corsairs scored in the fifth when Griffin Norton walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

In the sixth, pinch runner Edward Pietschman scored on Collins' single.

Chris Baumann picked up the win for the Carmel.

He went just four innings after getting hit with a line drive in the foot in the fourth inning.

Skylar Williams pitched the final three innings to pick up the save.

Carmel coach Dann Giesey said his team, which starts eight juniors, has really come together this past week.

"I love the quality of at-bats we had (Thursday)," Giesey said. "Everybody is getting the concept and we are getting deeper in the count. I thinking they are picking it up well."

Along with Johnson; Norton, Collins and Jones each had 2 hits for Carmel, which finished with 10 hits for the game. Trossen and Charlie Dempsey each had 2 hits for Hersey.

Hersey coach Bob Huber was pleased that his team, which had just 10 total hits in their first three games, managed eight against Carmel.

But he also thought mistakes really hurt his team's chances.

"It was nice to see us hit the ball," Huber said. "But it is still frustrating. I think we should be better than this."