Rattler pitchers held the Broncos scoreless while the offense steadily added runs and took advantage of Bronco errors to seal the victory. The energy was high in the dugouts and stands on both sides, as there is no love lost between these competitive teams. Kaleb Rogers started on the hill for Reagan and handled the moment with confidence. Rogers struck out the leadoff hitter and worked hard for the Rattlers, lasting 5 innings. Rogers collected 7 strikeouts (including 3 in a row in the 2nd inning), walked 2, and allowed 3 hits and 0 runs. Cody Pictrowski took the mound in relief in the top of the 6th and let the defense do its job. Pictrowski forced a line out to “Big Mike” Michael Yzaguirre in CF and a double play from Jeter Battles at SS to Caden Roy at first base. Pictrowski was relentless in the top of the 7th, pitching 11 pitches to 3 batters, allowing Javi Cuevas to record 2 ground outs at second base and “Big Mike” to snag the fly out at CF. Pictrowski pitched 2 innings, walking 1 and allowing 1 hit and 0 runs.
Caden Crofts brought in the first run in the bottom of the 1st, hitting a blistering ground ball double to RF which scored Isaiah Robledo who had beat out the throw on a ground ball to SS. Reagan scored 2 runs in the 3rd after Cuevas reached on an error, Battles laid down a sick bunt, and Robledo put the ball in play to SS, scoring Cuevas on an error. Crofts recorded his 2nd RBI with a ground ball to first that scored Battles. The Rattlers added a run in 4th when Roy executed a textbook bunt, moving “Big Mike” into scoring position. Karsten Holman reached on an error, and Cuevas gave the Broncos another dose of sac bunting to score Yzaguirre. 2 more runs were added in the 6th with a line drive to CF from “Big Mike”, a ball in play to SS from Roy who reached on a discombobulated defense, a walk from Caleb Crider, and a walk from Cuevas that brought in Yzaguirre. With bases loaded and 1 out, Battles got the RBI with a fielder’s choice to SS, scoring Roy.
The Rattlers travel to Corpus Christi on Saturday, April 27 to take on the Calallen Wildcats at Calallen High School at 1:00 pm. Tickets are available at Athletics / Digital/Online Ticket Sales (calallen.org)
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