The inaugural game for the Cicero Rattlers baseball team offered fans an exciting comeback victory under-the-lights at Santaro Park – complete with hits, nail-biting innings, great plays and even a homerun.

The game opened with 2 runs for Syracuse. Alex Sanes-Carmona led things off on the mound for Cicero. He allowed four hits and four runs over 1-1/4 innings, striking out three.

Cicero put the ball in play in the first, but only managed to bring in one-run (Sanes-Carmona).

The second inning was frustrating for Cicero, as walks and errors allowed 5 runs for Syracuse. Nicholas Capece came in to relieve Sanes-Carmona and gave up 3 runs and 3 walks. Cicero came out and only managed one run to make the score 7-2 at the end of the inning.

Connor Downer came in for Capece, and put in an impressive performance, allowing 1 run off of 1 hit, 4 walks and 5 strikeouts over 2 innings.

Cicero notched five runs in the third inning to get back into the game. Sanes-Carmona, Thelen, and Capece powered the big inning with RBIs. Lucas Thelen had an in-the-park homerun that got the home crowd excited.

Cicero pulled away for good with four runs in the fourth inning. In the fourth, Kenton (KJ) Cochran grounded out, scoring one run (Wozniczka), Alex Sanes-Carmona grounded out, scoring one run (Capp), and Lucas Thelen drew a walk, scoring one run (Sanes-Carmona).

Thelen finished the game on the mound, giving up 1 run on 1 hit, 6 walks and 4 strikeouts. He closed out the game with a strikeout with the tying run threatening from 3rd base.

Syracuse took the lead and held it for a good part of the game and fought hard right up until the last out in what turned out to be a fun, exciting and competitive game.

Cicero scattered nine hits in the game. Sanes-Carmona, Downer, and Mooney all collected multiple hits for the Cicero Rattlers. Mooney, Downer, and Sanes-Carmona each managed two hits to lead Cicero.

Cicero stole 11 bases during the game as three players stole more than one. Downer led the way with three.

Hits on the night came from Daniel Capp, Sanes-Carmona (2), Thelen, Conor Downer, Michael Mooney, and Johnny Wozniczka.

RBI’s on the night came off the bats of Kenton Cochran, Sanes-Carmona, Thelen (3), Downer, Nicholas Capece, Mooney (2) and Sean Bombard.

Some high points of the night for Cicero:

  • Diving catch in right field by Daniel Capp
  • Put-out of a hard-ground ball by Capece to end an inning when the tying run was on 3rd base.
  • Deep fly ball hit by Sanes-Carmona for a double and RBI.
  • Homerun by Lucas Thelon to put Cicero in position to tie Syracuse
  • Fly ball by Mooney to bring in a run.
  • Deep hit by Wozniczka
  • Solid plays from behind the plate by Capp, including a tag at home of what would have been a tying run.