The Cicero Rattlers shared the turf with East-Syracuse Minoa Spartans on Saturday night in the Sports Center 481 Arena.
Cicero took the lead in the first inning and held it until about 10 minutes remained on the clock, with the score at 6-3. That’s when ESM came back, outscoring Cicero in the remaining innings as time expired. Their rally included a 5-run inning and a 2-run inning that included a 2-run homer.
Cicero put up 19 hits and brought in 7 runs. Hit leaders on the night included Lucas Thelen (5/6, 2-doubles, 1 HR) and Nicholas Capece (4/6). 10 more hits came from KJ Cochran (3/6), Alex Sanes-Carmona (3/5), Conor Downer (2/5, 1-double), Daniel Capp (1/6), Michael Mooney (1/5) and Sean Bombard (1/5 – would be 3/5 if not for 2 questionable calls).
Highlight plays of the night for Cicero included:
Solo home run by Lucas Thelen, plus 2-doubles.
Long throw by Kenton Cochran (CF) to Daniel Capp (C) for the tag play at home.
Catch of a screaming line-drive by Cochran (SS).
Double by Conor Downer (2/5).
Put-out by Sean Bombard from RF to Lucas Thelen (1B).
Multiple put-outs by Conor Downer (2B), Capece (SS) and Cochran (SS).
Nice snag by Alex Sanes-Carmona (3B) of a weird hop that got past Capece (SS).
Captain on this night was KJ Cochran for his consistently positive attitude and good sportsmanship.
Game MVP was earned by Lucas Thelen for a solid defensive performance plus going 5/6 at the plate with 2-doubles and a solo HR.
This was a fun, competitive game against an ESM squad that includes players from the ESM Spartans Modified, Freshman and JV teams.
Winter session uses a pitching machine, limits each batter to 3 pitches, allows plays off the ceiling, provides a cut-off base between home plate and 1st, gives a single off of hits into the pitching area, and awards home runs for hits off the far wall.
Photo (from left to right): Daniel Capp, Lucas Thelen, KJ Cochran, Sean Bombard, Conor Downer, Nicholas Capece, Michael Mooney. Missing from the photo is Alex Sanes-Carmona (late arrival).