Carlton’s Godbout Is Nothing Short of Perfect

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Apr 19, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

MOOSE LAKE- Carlton Bulldogs pitcher Colton Godbout told Northland Sports Online “I just want to throw strikes and put the ball in play for my guys behind me,” and that’s just what he did as he pitched his way to a 7-0 perfect game over the Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels Thursday at Moose Lake High School.

Godbout used a dominating pitching performance, striking out 13 Rebels batters on the way to the 7-0 win Thursday. Godbout was in perfect control all afternoon, falling behind on only three of the 21 batters he faced on the afternoon. “I use a fastball, curve-ball, and change-up and I was able to use all three all day long.” Godbout mentioned.

The Bulldogs threatened to break the game open in the first inning after loading the bases on two walks and a Rebel throwing error, but Rebels starting pitcher BJ Young shut down the Bulldogs threat in the first inning. The Rebels and the Bulldogs battled over the next three innings as the score remained scoreless after four innings with neither team able to get anything going.

The fifth inning saw the Bulldogs break the game open after the Rebels starting pitcher BJ Young was replaced with Teddy Ryan. Ryan walked the first two batters he faced, Dominic Bennett and Brett Balow. The Rebels then put BJ Young back into pitch for the Rebels and it was Zach Veno who laced a two run triple to right field scoring both Balow and Bennett for the only runs the Bulldogs would need.

Veno then scored as Godbout helped his own cause by singling to left field making it 3-0 in the Bulldogs favor. Godbout scored following a walk to Jake Eggert and an RBI single by Eric Adams. Both Adams and Eggert also scored in the inning from bases loaded walks.

The Bulldogs added to their six run lead in the seventh inning when Kyle Gunderson hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Eggert, who had reached on a walk. Eggert stole second and moved to third base on a passed ball. Eggert’s run gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead in the sixth inning and they went on to the seven run win.

While Godbout’s pitching performance was the key to setting down all 21 Rebel batters in order; getting a little help from your friends doesn’t hurt either. Godbout’s perfect game went into the seventh inning and two hard hit balls to the infield made it interesting. BJ Young grounded out to Brett Balow, but it was Eric Adams who made a huge dig at third base. Adams had to move to his left to come up with a hard hit ball from Teddy Ryan and then make an off balance throw to first, where Gunderson dug out the low throw out to preserve the perfect game. The seventh inning ended
when Godbout threw three straight strikes to retire the final batter and write the perfect game into the record books.

The Bulldogs were aided by 12 bases on balls allowed by the Rebels pitching staff. Carlton, who finished with only six hits on the game, stranded 13 runners on the afternoon. Godbout, Bennett and Eggert all had three walks on the afternoon for Carlton.

The Bulldogs improve to 2-3 overall on the season; they will be back in action starting Monday when they will have three homes games next week. Monday they will face Chisholm, Tuesday they host Barnum, and on Thursday they will face Nashwauk-Keewatin.

The Rebels fall to 1-2 on the season and they will face Pine City on Monday afternoon at Moose Lake High School. They will also be in action on Thursday when they will take on the Rangers of Crosby-Ironton in Crosby.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com