Adam Eaton to become sixth Clark County native to play in World Series

Nationals complete four-game sweep of Cardinals

Credit: Patrick Smith

Credit: Patrick Smith

Adam Eaton doubled and scored in a seven-run first inning Tuesday, and those were the only runs the Washington Nationals needed in Game 4 of the National League Championship series as they beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 to complete a four-game sweep.

» HAL McCOY: Nationals sweep Cardinals

The Nationals face a long wait to make their first World Series appearance. Game 1 of the World Series, against the Houston Astros or New York Yankees, will be Tuesday on the road.

According to the Springfield/Clark County Baseball Hall of Fame, Eaton, a 2007 Kenton Ridge graduate who played three seasons for the Miami RedHawks, will be the seventh player from Clark County to play for a team that made the World Series and the first since 2005. Five Clark County natives have seen playing time in the World Series.

» GAME 3: Eaton says Nationals ‘feeling the love’ from fans

Here’s the Hall of Fame’s list: Jiggs Donahue (1906 Chicago White Sox); Pat Donahue (1910 Philadelphia A's); Harvey Haddix (1960 Pittsburgh Pirates); Will McEnaney (1975 and 1976 Cincinnati Reds); Rick White (2000 New York Mets); Dustin Hermanson (2005 White Sox).

Pat Donahue is the only player on that list who did not play in the World Series. He appeared in 14 games for the A’s that season. The Donahue brothers, Haddix, McEnaney (twice) and Hermanson were all part of teams that won the World Series.

Jiggs Donahue is the only position player on that list to bat in the World Series. He went 5-for-18 with four RBIs in the 1906 World Series.

» PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Eaton excited to make postseason debut

McEnaney, a North High School graduate, was the last player from Springfield to get a hit in the World Series. He went 1-for-5 for the Cincinnati Reds in 1975.

Eaton is the fourth Kenton Ridge graduate to play in the big leagues, and he’ll be the third to play in the World Series, following White and Hermanson. Each played for Kenton Ridge coach Tom Randall. Eaton was a senior on Randall’s final team.

White made one appearance in 2000, pitching 1 1/3 innings. Hermanson pitched a third of an inning in the 2005 World Series.

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