Red Alert: Former Ponte Vedra pitcher Ricky Karcher handles pressure for MLB debut save
Ricky Karcher needed four words to describe Monday night to reporters: "That was just incredible."
The former Ponte Vedra pitcher not only played in his first-ever Major League Baseball game, but earned the save in extra innings as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-4.
Karcher attended Ponte Vedra before moving out of state for his senior year to Saline (Mich.) High School. Cincinnati selected him in the 13th round of the 2017 MLB Draft after college baseball at the University of Michigan and Walters State (Tenn.) Community College in Tennessee.
Called up for the first time on June 8, Karcher waited four days for his debut, and it came in an extra-inning pressure cooker. With three of its pitchers unavailable for the night, and four more already used, the Reds called on Karcher to nail down the final three outs with a man on second in the 10th at Kauffman Stadium.
Wildness (12 balls in 21 pitches) challenged Karcher at times Monday, as it has in the minors, where he carried a 9.27 ERA and 34 walks through the first two months. But he survived: Despite a leadoff walk and a double steal that moved the go-ahead run into scoring position, he forced a fly out, a pop-up and another fly to escape.
As reported by MLB.com's Mark Sheldon, Karcher is the first Reds pitcher to record a save in his major league debut since saves became official statistics in 1969.
He becomes the second St. Johns County player to make his MLB debut within the past month. Former Nease pitcher Blair Calvo pitched for the Colorado Rockies on May 30, although Calvo has since returned to the minors.
Locals to race in Philadelphia
State sprint champions Jayden Dailey and Christian Miller are among several St. Johns County athletes scheduled to compete at the four-day New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet for track and field, scheduled for June 15-18 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
Creekside junior Miller, who completed the 100-200 double in Class 4A at last month's Florida High School Athletic Association championships at the University of North Florida, races the 100 and 200 again in Philadelphia. So will Dailey, a sophomore champion for Class 2A in the orange of Tocoi Creek.
Ponte Vedra state champions Vincent Jackson and Nathan Lebowitz compete in the discus and javelin, respectively, after leading the Sharks to their first-ever FHSAA title in Class 3A.
Other local qualifiers in championship events include Creekside's Kate Franklin (girls 100 hurdles) and Janay Moorer (girls 200 and 400), as well as several relay teams.
Competitors in the Rising Stars classification include Thania Barton from St. Augustine and Josh Howell, Melissa Epting and Sofia Killin from Creekside.
Moore promoted at Flashes hoops
St. Joseph promoted Kenny Moore as the new head boys basketball coach for the 2023-24 season.
Moore had previously served as an assistant on the staff of Marcus Perez, who stepped down following the season's end.
St. Joseph finished 21-7 in 2022-23 and qualified for the Class 2A playoffs, advancing to the regional semifinals before losing to Impact Christian.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Ricky Karcher earns save on Cincinnati Reds MLB debut
