The pitching was strong on both sides on Friday night with the Rattlers held to 4 hits and the Buffaloes held to 3. Kaleb Rogers started on the hill for Reagan and recorded the win. Rogers came out strong, striking out 2 in the 1st inning. Kaleb brought the heat in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings, sitting down each of the Buffaloes that entered the box. Rogers pitched 5 innings and recorded 5 strikeouts and 4 walks. He gave up 3 hits and 1 run (zero earned). Cody Pictrowski took over on the bump in the 6th inning with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs. Pictrowski went to work, getting the next 3 Buffaloes out with a line out to Caleb Cappuccio in RF, a strikeout looking, and a line out to Micheal Yzaguirre in CF. Pictrowski continued his focused pitching in the top of the 7th, pitching 12 pitches to 4 batters, walking 1, pitching into a fielder’s choice at second base, and pitching into a ground out at first from SS, Jeter Battles. With a runner on second, the tying run at the plate, and 2 outs, Caden Crofts snagged the last out with an ESPN diving catch on the run in LF.
The Rattlers had a 2-out rally in the bottom of the 2nd, scoring 2 runs. After Ryland Rangel drew a walk, Elias Leon sac bunted, Yzaguirre drew a walk, and Cappuccio reached on an error, Javi Cuevas came through with an RBI ground ball single to second base, beating out the throw on an amazing, head-first slide at first base and scoring Rangel. Battles was patient at the plate and drew a walk to score Yzaguirre. The Rattlers scored 1 more run in the bottom of the 5th started off by Isaiah Robledo drawing a walk and Caden Crofts hitting a hard ground ball single to RF. Robledo scored on an error by the Buffaloes’ pitcher. The offense got it done with only 4 hits in the game, Cuevas (1), Crofts (2), and Caleb Crider (1).
The Rattlers’ defense in this first round of playoffs stepped up and made key plays when their backs were against the wall, helping out the hard-working pitchers. In Game 1, Caleb Crider was money at third base, with an incredible, 7 put-outs, and “Big Mike” Yzaguirre had 4 put-outs from CF. In Game 2, Battles grabbed 5 put-outs from SS, Crofts collected 3 from LF, and Cuevas snatched up 2 from second base.
The Rattlers begin Round 2 against Round Rock Dragons on Thursday, May 9 at Hays HS in Buda, TX (4800 Jack C Hays Trail, Buda, TX 78610) @ 7:00 pm with Game 2 on Friday, May 10 at Hays HS @ 7:00 pm. Tickets are available at Student Programs / Ticketing Box Office – ATHLETIC EVENTS (hayscisd.net)
#StrikeEm#Fight98