Rothrock tops Lakes in weekend action

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: May 24, 2021

By Josh Yoder

It was a back and forth contest throughout.

It was a game where one play could make all the difference and Rothrock found that one play and ultimately came out on top over Lake’s by the final score of 10-9 in Cal Ripken Jr Minor league baseball action.

Lake’s got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first with the bases loaded and Bentyn Ishler at the plate. Ishler drew a walk that brought home Kevin O’Donnell giving Lake’s a 1-0 lead. However, it would be the only run in the frame.

Rothrock responded big in the bottom of the first with Landon Pecht who sent a rocket deep to right field and hustled all the way home for an inside the park home run to even the game at one apiece. Later on in the same inning, Crosby Sunderland managed to score on a wild pitch to give Rothrock a 2-1 lead.

Both teams continued to trade shots offensively as in the top half of the second inning when Lake’s took back the lead scoring four runs in the frame. O’Donell got the offense going for Lake’s with a single to right scoring both Cathen Kibe and Remy Marks to make it 3-2 Lake’s lead. Brayden Hess then scored before Wyatt Foltz drove in O’Donnell to make it 5-2.

Rothrock added another run in the bottom half of the second as with the bases loaded, Carter Alexander drew a walk to bring home Conner Yoder.

More runs were to follow for Lake’s as in the top of the third, Liam Bender singled to right to score Calvin Napikoski before scoring on a wild pitch.

Then with the score at 9-7 Lake’s heading into the bottom of the fifth inning was where things got a little crazy.

Rothrock came out aggressive at the plate starting with Reagan Varner who singled to left to drive home Cain Lynch. Then Sunderland came back to bat and drove in Varner to tie the game at nine apiece. Then finally that big play came as Pecht was on third base and the ball slipped past the catcher allowing Pecht to score which would end up being the game winner.

For Lake’s Andrew Koch went 2-for-3, Kevin O’Donnell went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, Wyatt Foltz went 1-for-2 with an RBI and Bender batted 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Rothrock was led by Pecht who was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs including the inside the park home run and a double. Varner went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Sunderland was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Pitching wise, Lake’s had Foltz who struck out four batters and walked three. Meanwhile Bender had three strikeouts and two walks before handing the ball over to O’Donnell who struckout four and walked two.

For Rothrock, Varner got the win and collected six strikeouts and no walks. Sunderland got the start and had three strikeouts and two walks before Lucas Casner took over and had a strikeout and two walks. Pecht also got to pitch and collected five strikeouts and walked three batters.