The Rattlers came into the Sports Center Arena on Saturday night looking for their third win in a row. They delivered a dominating performance against the Syracuse Warriors a week earlier with a shutout – and beat the Sports Zone team the week before that. On this night, the Rattlers faced the Fulton Fury.
Cicero started off with just one hit in the first inning (Daniel Capp). They remained scoreless through the first 3 innings. Hits came from Jacob Calabria, Luke Crawford, Kenton Cochran, Lucas Thelen and Nicholas Capece but the Fury defense made good plays that left runners on base. The Rattlers defense made some nice plays of their own but also benefited from several Fury strikeouts.
The Rattlers got on the board first in the fourth inning. Consecutive hits by Lucas Thelen, Nicholas Capece, Daniel Capp, Ethan Matthews, Jacob Calabria and Luke Crawford helped drive in 2 runs (Thelen and Capece).
With the Rattlers leading 2-0, in the 6th inning, hits by Capece, Capp, Ethan Matthews, Calabria and Crawford helped bring in another run (Capece) to put the score at 3-0.
The Fury were able to get on base as the game continued, but they were unable to score thanks to a number of outstanding plays by the Rattlers defense.
The Rattlers were able to put the game away for good in the 9th inning as they batted around the order with hits from Thelen, Capece, Capp, Matthews, Calabria, Crawford, Cochran and Connor Pearce. The inning, and game, ended with a score of 8-0, Rattlers.
Hits on the night for the Rattlers came from Calabria (6), Capece (5), Capp (5), Matthews (4), Crawford (4), Thelen (3), Cochran (2) and Pearce (1).
Some Highlight Plays of the Day:
Jumping catch of a fly ball by Jacob Sadowski at 2B, who then quickly made the throw to 1st base to nab the runner (who had not tagged up) for the double play. Sadowski made several nice plays on the day.
Long throw by Daniel Capp from left field to 1st base to get the runner out. Capp went on to make another great throw from right field to 3B for an out.
Two nice tag plays by Cochran at 3B to get the out.
Big hits from Calabria, Capece and Crawford and Thelen.
Two long throws by Connor Pearce to first base from center field to get the put-out.
Nice play by Crawford from right field to 1B to get the out.
Nice grab by Capece of a high throw at 2B to get the out.
A perfect 6/6 at the plate for Calabria.
MVP on the night: The entire team earned MVP nods for a great team effort!
Team quote for this game: “Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.”
Photo (from left to right): Connor Pearce, Kenton Cochran, Daniel Capp, Jacob Sadowski, Jacob Calabria, Lucas Thelen, Nicholas Capece, Ethan Matthews. Missing from photo: Jack Clary, Luke Crawford. Missing from tonight’s game: Jack Clary.