The Rattlers CLL squad took the field Wednesday night looking to extend their win streak as they faced a capable Seneca River South (SRS) team.
The game started off with SRS at the plate and Jacob Calabria on the mound for the Rattlers. While SRS was able to get on base courtesy of some walks, they were unable to score in the first inning.
The Rattlers got things going on offense in the 1st inning with a hard-hit line drive by Nicholas Capece. Capece stole his way to third base before being hit in by Ethan Matthews for the first run of the game. The inning stalled at that point, leaving the score 1-0.
SRS struck back with 3 runs in the 2nd inning. Calabria struck out 2, walked 4 and gave up 1 hit and 2 runs in his 1-1/2 innings. Alex Smith came in to finish the 2nd inning, while the Rattlers went scoreless.
Smith went on to walk 5, strike out 2 and give up 1 hit and 2 runs in 1-1/2 innings before being relieved by Lucas Thelen. Thelen ended the 3rd inning without allowing any runs. Cicero tied it up in the bottom of the 3rd inning, scoring 2 runs off of hits by Bombard, Capece and Smith.
SRS came back again in the 4th inning, bringing in 3 runs off of 2 hits, 2 walks and a batter hit by the pitch – and held Cicero scoreless in the inning. This put the score at 6-3, SRS.
As the sun started to set, SRS scored one more run in the 6th inning to put SRS ahead 7-3 – and set the Rattlers up for their last at-bat. Thelen would finish the game having given up 3 hits and 4 runs while walking 3 and striking out 1.
Jack Clary started the bottom of the 5th inning off with a walk for Cicero, which was followed by another walk by Bombard. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Thelen hit a deep double to right field, driving in Clary and putting Bombard on 3rd base. Capece was walked and then stole 2nd base before Calabria hit single to right field, driving in Bombard to make the score 7-5.
With Capece and Calabria on base, Matthews drew a walk of his own to load the bases. Michael Mooney dropped a single to right field, scoring Capece to bring the score to 7-6. With Calabria on 3rd base, and Matthews on 2nd, Daniel Capp hit a deep single to right field to bring in Calabria for the go-ahead run.
Jack DeVinney followed with the deepest hit of the night which, while caught in center field, drove in Matthews who tagged up at 3rd base. The inning and game ended with a strike-out on the next at-bat – leaving the Rattlers ahead 9-7 for the win.
The Rattlers CLL have extended their win streak to 3 games and have won 6 of their last 7 games.
Hits for the Rattlers came from Lucas Thelen, Nicholas Capece (2), Jacob Calabria, Ethan Matthews, Michael Mooney, Daniel Capp (2), Sean Bombard and Alex Smith.
Runs were scored by Thelen, Capece (2), Calabria, Matthews, Kenton Cochran, Jack Clary and Sean Bombard (2).
Exciting moments:
- 6-run rally in the bottom of the last inning
- Deep hit by Daniel Capp to bring in the go-ahead run.
- Deepest hit of the night came from Jack Devinney, who earned an RBI from the runner on 3rd.
- Fly ball to short left field caught by a sprinting Thelen.
- Double play by Smith (CF), who caught a fly ball and threw it to Calabria (SS) to get the runner who didn’t tag up.
Team quote for this game: “Ability is what you are capable of doing. Attitude determines how well you do it.”
MVP on the night: Daniel Capp who had 2 hits, which included hitting in the go-ahead run to seal the win.