The Rattlers’ season came to an end in Game 3 of the Region IV Semi-finals against the Panthers. It was an uphill battle for the Rattlers, going down 1-0 in the 1st inning and a base runner caught stealing in the 1st and 2nd innings. Unfortunately, the Rattlers were out-hit 7-4 despite drawing 7 walks and recording only 3 strikeouts to the Panthers’ 7. The Rattlers also committed 2 uncharacteristic errors to the Panthers’ 0 errors. Michael “Big Mike” Yzaguirre had the first hit for the Rattlers in the 2nd with a screaming ground ball double down the third base line that rolled to the fence, but the Rattlers were unable to capitalize. Reagan went up 2-1 in the 4th with discipline at the plate. Caden Crofts, Elias Leon, and Yzaguirre all drew walks. With bases loaded, 2 outs, and an 0-1 count, starting pitcher, Caleb Crider, ignited the Rattler fans and dugout with a clutch line drive to CF, scoring Crofts and courtesy runner Keegan Baldwin. Javi Cuevas came through in the 5th with a line drive single to LF with 2 outs, but Reagan was unable to get him across the plate. After going down 5-2 in the bottom of the 5th, the Rattlers attempted a come-back in the top of the 7th. Crider got hit by a pitch, then Caden Roy battled at the plate, taking it to a full count and crushing a line drive double to LF. With 1 out, Crider on third, and pinch runner Keegan Baldwin on second, Jeter Battles collected an RBI, scoring Crider with a ground out to SS. Cuevas drew a walk, however the Rattlers came up short, ending the game with a 5-3 loss.
Starting pitcher, Caleb Crider, finished the season strong on the mound and strong at the plate with his 2-run RBI single in the 4th inning. Crider pitched 5 innings, facing 24 batters, striking out 5, walking 2, and giving up 7 hits and 5 runs (3 earned). Crider held his composure as the Panthers scored on an error in the 1st inning, coming back in the 2nd with 2 strikeouts and eliciting a fly out to Crofts in LF. With runners on first and second and no outs in the 3rd, Crider showed his determination and athleticism by snagging a pop up to the third base side of the mound and then completing the double play to Battles at second base who caught the runner off the bag. Crider battled on the mound in the bottom of the 5th after coming under pressure with bases loaded and 1 out. He got the Panthers to fly out to Yzaguirre in CF and pop out to Cuevas at second after the Panthers went up 5-2. Cody Pictrowski came in for relief in the bottom of the 6th and was a beast on the bump, striking out the first batter, fielding a ground out, and striking out the third batter. Pictrowski faced 3 batters with 16 pitches, walking 0 and allowing 0 hits or runs.
The 2023-2024 Rattler Varsity team finished the season as District 28-6A Champions and Region IV Semi-Finalists. They struggled with injuries all season and battled for every win. The 16 seniors on the team, many of whom have played ball together since they were 5 years old, were encouraging and steadfast in their support of each other and their teammates. We wish these seniors; Keegan Baldwin, Jeter Battles, Caden Crofts, Javi Cuevas, Luke Davis, Kyle Hoggatt, Stone Johnson, Elias Leon, Connor McCabe, Will McPherson, Cody Pictrowski, Chase Portillos, Ryland Rangel, Caden Roy, Tre Weaver, and Michael Yzaguirre, good luck in their future endeavors, and we wish good luck to Rattlers Baseball next year and in the years to come. Strike ‘Em!
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