Murphy's Law: Red Robins Flying High into Clinton Showdown
By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern | June 14, 2025
Don’t look now, but the
Red Springs Red Robins are above .500, and the feathers are puffing up just in time for their biggest test of the season.
After sweeping Smithfield-Selma — including a pair of shutouts — the Robins (11-10) have clawed their way back into the mix and are playing their best baseball of the summer. Now, they’ll take flight into a weekend showdown at first-place Clinton (14-7), beginning Saturday night in what feels like a statement series.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Game 1 features a tough customer. Clinton ace
Mike “Winnie” Smith, he of the baffling knuckleball and even more baffling 1.08 ERA, gets the ball. Smith (pictured above) is 4-0 with 24 strikeouts and only two walks, making him arguably the most effective arm in the league.
But don’t count out the boys from RobCo just yet. In the last week alone, Red Springs logged three shutouts, got two complete-game gems (from
Shane D’Ovidio and Dan McSwain), and saw the offense come alive behind a surging top of the order.
Chris Wreede (.396 AVG) homered and tripled on Wednesday.
Steve Bowser and Bruce Browning both left the yard during the homestand, and
Ken “Wee Davy” Rogers legged out a triple. The Robins plated nine runs on Thursday and followed it with a 3-0 Friday night win, as McSwain struck out nine in a dominant outing.
That’s five wins in seven games, folks. And even the blemishes — two close losses to Sanford — featured competitive at-bats and late chances.
Still, it’s not all sunshine. Red Springs took a gut punch with the loss of
Estevan Hernandez, the crafty righty with a 1.77 ERA, now out for the year (Tommy John). Add in a nagging hamstring injury to second baseman
Mario Sanchez, and the Robins’ depth is under pressure.
The response? A little grit and a lot of gumption. Red Springs signed
Steve Brewington, a clubhouse favorite but not exactly known for his lights-out stuff. The scouting report? Great guy. Leaky fastball. But hey, sometimes belief trumps velocity.
Manager
Elijah Crabtree, ever the tinkerer, has been letting his starters stretch deeper into games to keep the bullpen fresh. And right now, it’s working.
Bottom line: If this is a team on the rise, we’ll find out this weekend. Clinton is legit. Mike “Winnie” Smith is legit. But momentum is real, too — and Red Springs is bringing some.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Saturday in Clinton. Bring a glove, bring a chair, and bring a little Red Robins pride. This one might have fireworks.