The weather on Saturday night was pretty awful, with near white-out conditions and snow covered roads, but that didn’t keep the Cicero Rattlers and ESM Blizzard from hitting the turf at the Sports Center 481 arena.
Players and fans who braved the weather on this night were treated to Cicero’s most high-powered offensive performance of the winter season.
The Rattlers more than doubled their previous record for hits in a game, which was 29 in the previous match-up against CNY Sandlot.
On this night, Cicero racked up 67 hits, which included multiple doubles and 4 home runs (KJ Cochran, Lucas Thelen, Conor Downer, Batista Wood).
The starting lineup for Cicero on this night:
1. Nicholas Capece (SS)
2. KJ Cochran (CF)
3. Daniel Capp (RF)
4. Lucas Thelen (1B)
5. Conor Downer (2B)
6. Sean Bombard (LF)
7. Batista Wood (3B)
8. Peyton Lants (C)
ESM came ready to compete and managed to put a lot of balls into play. Unfortunately, they had difficulty getting on base as Cicero played solid defense. ESM threatened to score late in the match-up, but a series of put-outs left a runner on 3rd base and kept them off the board.
Highlights of the night for Cicero:
- First home run of the night by KJ Cochran (2-run homer)
- Nice teamwork play by Downer (2B) and Thelen (1B), with Thelen coming up for a short ground ball and making the toss to Downer at first.
- Multiple put-outs by Downer at 2B.
- Second home run of the night by Batista Wood.
- Third home run of the night by Lucas Thelen (2-run homer).
- Fourth home run of the night by Conor Downer.
- Throw from RF by Lants from RF to Capp at 1B.
- Nice grab by Capece (at 1B) of a ball hit right over first base.
- Doubles from Cochran, Lants, Downer, and Capp (who had 3-doubles on the night).
- Great play by Lants at 3B, who charged a short ground ball and completed the throw to 1B.
The team quote for this night was: “One player can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one player cannot make a team”
No individual captain was selected on this night as the entire team was challenged to exhibit exceptional sportsmanship and a positive attitude.
MVP for Cicero was Conor Downer, who went 6/9 at the plate, which included 2 doubles and his first home run of the season. He also made several put-outs from the 2nd base position.