Having outscored their opponents 60-12 in the previous 5 games, the Cicero Rattlers were looking for their 5th straight win as they met up with SBC Cuse Blues on Saturday night.
The game remained competitive for much of the night, which made it a fun outing for players and fans.
The Rattlers struck first in the opening inning, bringing in 1 run off of hits by Luke Crawford, Daniel Capp and Dylan Bertollini. Cuse Blues took the lead by putting up 2 runs off of some nicely placed hits.
With Cuse Blues ahead 2-1, the Rattlers tied it up in the top of the 3rd inning thanks to a Lucas Thelen double and a Jacob Calabria RBI single.
The Rattlers continued to be a defensive juggernaut on this night. The middle infielders were kept busy, as Nicholas Capece and Jacob Calabria combined for the most put-outs. Lucas Thelen had several nice grabs at first base, while Kenton Cochran made a number of impressive tags and throws from third base. For SBC, solid defensive plays were made by Batista Wood (SS) and Evan Rumpel (OF), who made a long throw for an out.
The score remained tied up at 2 through the 6th inning, despite a number of hits by Calabria, Capece, Luke Crawford, Capp, Bertollini, Ethan Matthews, Thelen, Cochran and Connor Pearce. Thelen would go on to lead the offense in hits (6/6, 1 double).
The Rattlers offense exploded in the 7th inning, as hits by Thelen, Calabria, Capece, Crawford, Capp and Bertollini brought in the first 4 runs, while an exciting grand-slam homerun by Ethan Matthews brought in the final 4 runs. The Rattlers went ahead 10-2 (there is an 8 run max per inning) and SBC was held scoreless in the inning.
The Rattlers struck again in the 8th inning as Kenton Cochran hit a 2-run homerun to put the score out of reach for SBC at 12-2. SBC managed one final run in the 8th inning before the game ended in the 9th with a score of 12-3, Rattlers.
This was the final game of the 2nd winter session. The Rattlers ended the session with a 5-1 record, outscoring their opponents 62-15.
Team Highlights
Solid team defense all-around.
Nicholas Capece made several nice plays, including 5 consecutive putouts that quickly ended 2 innings.
Jacob Calabria made several nice plays from the shortstop position, including a bare-hander at SS.
Lucas Thelen made 3 nice scoops at 1st base, plus one leaping catch. He also went a perfect 6/6 at the plate, which included a double.
KJ Cochran made a nice long throw from third base for an out, plus he notched himself a 2-run homerun.
Ethan Matthews grand slam homerun that propelled the team to 8 runs in the inning (3 past the usual 5-run max).
Rattlers Lineup
Jacob Calabria LF
Nicholas Capece SS
Luke Crawford 2B
Daniel Capp RF
Dylan Bertollin C
Ethan Matthews CF
Lucas Thelen 1B
KJ Cochran 3B
Connor Pearce CF
Missing from the game: Jacob Sadowski, Jack Clary
MVP on the night was Ethan Matthews, whose grand-slam homerun sealed the victory for the Rattlers.
Team quote for the night: “Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.”