Baseball: Carmel teams up for victory over Crystal Lake Central

Carmel Catholic brothers Drew and Ben Wiegman are baseball teammates and will be in the future, too.

That's the plan.

Drew Wiegman is a junior and bats third for the Corsairs. Ben is a sophomore and also hits the ball hard. And he throws it hard. They helped Carmel win 23 games last year, and on Tuesday they were a big reason why the Corsairs beat visiting Crystal Lake Central 6-1.

Drew chipped in an RBI single. After surrendering a single run, Ben settled down and retired 9 Tigers in a row. He helped his own case with a pair of doubles, with the last one driving in 2 runs.

The Wiegman brothers are both verbally committed to the University of Louisville.

"I was playing for the Florida Pokes," Drew Wiegman said. "I was playing shortstop. I made a few plays. But I wanted to make sure someone looked at Ben. He was in eighth grade, and he was throwing in the 80s (mph)."

Ben was in control of the game from start to finish against Crystal Lake Central (5-2). An RBI double in the second inning put the visitors up 1-0.

"I threw a change up and they got a double," the right-hander said.

There were no complaints from Carmel coach Bill Taylor.

"Ben threw the ball very well today," Taylor said. "It was just nice to get on our field."

Carmel (2-1) took the lead for good in the home half of the third. Sean Lynch doubled to right, and Max Herubin drove him home with a hit. Leadoff hitter Austin Ehren brought in the go-ahead run with the third hit of the frame.

The fifth inning was key for Carmel. The Wiegman brothers brought in three of the four runs in the inning. Lucas Galdoni brought in the fourth run with a sacrifice fly.

Charley Dir had seventh-inning trouble on the mound but wriggled free with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to Drew Wiegman at short.

"It's an amazing feeling that we are going to same college," Drew Wiegman said of him and his younger brother.

"It's good that we play different positions," Ben Wiegman added.