Results tagged ‘ Timber Rattlers ’
Down On The Farm: Talking Baseball With Brewers Prospects Clint Coulter and Mitch Haniger
by Kevin Kimmes
In the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft, Milwaukee had the luxury of drafting 3 players in the 1st round: Clint Coulter (27th), Victor Roache (28th) and Mitch Haniger (38th). While Roache will start the season for the AZL Brewers of the Arizona League, both Coulter and Haniger will look to make a name for themselves right here in Wisconsin as members of the defending Midwest League Champion Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Last week during the team’s media day, I had the opportunity to talk briefly with both Clint and Mitch about where they come from and what they look to do in 2013.
Source: milb.com
Clint Coulter
Milwaukee’s 1st pick in the 2012 draft, Coulter is a catcher considered by many to be the best high school player in the Pacific Northwest. A versatile ball player, Coulter started as a shortstop before being moved to third and eventually landing at catcher due to his strong arm.
“I played every game in the Arizona League at catcher and all through the winter they sent me catching drills to do. All through spring training I caught, so if it’s not catcher I’m really going to be surprised.”
One advantage that Coulter has had right out the gate was having former Major League catcher Tom Lampkin as his high school coach. Lampkin, who played parts of 13 seasons for six different teams, including the Brewers in 1993, helped define the psychological aspects of the position for him.
“I didn’t get to work with him a ton as far as technical aspects of catching, but psychologically we still talk. I just talked to him before I came. He knows that it’s a grind and that he’s been there and done that so he’s been able to talk me through stuff like that.”
Drawing comparisons to catcher Mike Napoli, Coulter says that he based his game around that of Atlanta Braves catcher, Brian McCann.
“He’s definitely a really good catcher as well as a good hitter. In High School I switch hit a little bit, hit a little bit left handed. Now I’ve stuck solely to right handed. But also, it’s the leadership aspect. He’s really respected by his peers. As well as guys like Jason Varitek, he’s got the Captain on his shirt, so if you can be the leader, you’re the catcher, you run the ship. I just want to be that type of guy.”
Mitch Haniger
Milwaukee’s 3rd pick in the 1st round of the 2012 draft, Haniger made a brief appearance with the Timber Rattlers in 2012 before being sidelined with an injury.
“I tore my PCL in my right knee on a bad slide into home plate and then tried to stay in the game. I don’t know if I hurt it worse trying to run to 1st on my next at bat, but that’s when I really felt it and had to come out of the game. I had to go to Arizona for the remaining 3 months of the year and just rehab and get healthy.”
When asked about how the knee is feeling this year, Haniger assured me that it’s feeling good and that he’s faster and stronger than ever before.
As an outfielder, Haniger states that his goals for 2013 are to focus on his defense, throwing, and hitting.
“I want to continue to play good defense and throw guys out from the outfield, continue to have good at bats, hit the ball hard and do what I can to help my team win.”
Additionally, for card collectors out there, it should be noted that Haniger made his initial cardboard appearances with Brewers cards appearing in both 2012 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects and 2012 Bowman Sterling.
“It’s pretty cool. I signed a few in the offseason, so I think I saw them before anyone else did, but that was pretty cool to finally see my name on a card.”
The Timber Rattlers play their first home game of the 2013 season this evening at 6:35 PM at Fox Cities Stadium. All fans in attendance will receive a Matt Erickson bobblehead.
Kevin Kimmes is a regular contributor to creamcitycables.com and a 2013 MLB Fan Cave Top 52 Finalist. You can follow him on Twitter at @kevinkimmes.
Fox Cities Stadium Renovations On Track For Opening Day
On Tuesday, Cream City Cables was invited to tour the newly renovated Fox Cities Stadium.
by Kevin Kimmes
With less than 4 weeks until their home opener on April 8th, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers invited the media out to Fox Cities Stadium on Tuesday to preview the parks newly renovated amenities. The 6.2 million dollar renovation began last fall following the teams last Midwest League Championship Series home-game and currently stands at about 95% complete, which according to Timber Rattlers President, Rob Zerjav, puts the progress ahead of schedule.
Zerjav stated Tuesday that the renovation will not be coming at the expense of the fans. The project was fully funded by the team, the facility’s owners (The Fox Cities Amateur Sports Authority) and a $400,000 grant from the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau. That means that prices at both the ticket window and the concession stands will be in line with what fans paid last season.
So, what can fans expect when they head out to the ballpark this season?
A look at the inside of the expanded team store.
1) An expanded team store: Twice the size of the old team store, the new store will be open during the day and will allow the team to have an expanded selection of merchandise on hand at all times.
2) Parking lot accessible restrooms: Piggybacking off of the existing concourse restrooms, the new restrooms will provide amenities for tailgaters prior to gates opening on game day.
3) 2nd Floor Banquet Facility/Club Level: One of the big focal points of the renovation was to turn the park into a year round venue which has been accomplished with the addition of an enclosed banquet facility on the parks new upper level. Already scheduled to host 12 weddings this year, the team is looking into how the space can be utilized for other non-baseball events potentially including concerts or festivals.
Tickets for the Club Level will be $15.00. This section of the facility will also be open for 2 hours after every home game giving fans who don’t want to go home yet a place to hang out.
The view from inside one of the six new luxury boxes.
4) Luxury boxes: Also located on the parks upper level, 6 luxury boxes have been added which replace the teams 3 suites which they previously had . Each box is designed to accommodate 14 fans with outside seating for 10 and an additional 4 seats located at a party bar inside the boxes themselves. Additional features of the boxes include closed circuit TV and waitstaff. The boxes will be rented out on a 1/4, 1/2 and full season basis.
5) Increased stadium capacity: Stadium capacity has increased from 5,500 to 5,900 with the addition of the upper deck. While not a huge jump in capacity, the expanded facilities should make for an even better fan experience on game day.
The Timber Rattlers play their first home game of the 2013 season against the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Monday April 8th with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm.
Kevin Kimmes is a regular contributor to creamcitycables.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @kevinkimmes.
Homestand Heartbreak: Rattlers Drop Game 2 to TinCaps
by Kevin Kimmes
Despite being delayed by an hour due to rain, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers managed to get Game 2 of their best of 5 series with the Fort Wayne TinCaps in on Thursday afternoon. The results however, were not exactly to their liking.
The Rattlers were downed by the TinCaps 5-1, and now must play the remaining games of the series in enemy territory. When asked about today’s loss, Chad Pierce said the following:
“If we score 4 runs, we can afford to give up 3. Today, we scored 1 run, so we needed to give up zero. You know, I battled, I just wish I had thrown better. That 2 run inning (top of the 5th) I was leaving balls up. Luckily, they were mishitting throughout the game.”
The lone run today came in the bottom of the bottom of the 4th when 1st baseman Nick Ramirez crushed a solo homer to center that bounced on the outfield walkway before disappearing over the parks exterior wall. Ramirez, who led the team in home runs during the regular season with 16, was unfazed by the task of having to win 2 games on the road in Fort Wayne:
“It’s just a game. It doesn’t make the game any tougher. We just have to go to their place and have an us against the world mentality. We’ve been pretty good on the road this year, so I don’t think it changes anything.”
If there is a silver lining to be found in today’s loss, it has to be that despite the offensive struggles the team has seen in the first 2 games (6 total hits in 2 games, with 2 runs in Game 1 coming off of wild pitches), the team is heading to Fort Wayne with a series split.
“There is definitely a belief that we can get this done,” Rattlers manager Matt Erickson stated in his post game press conference. “We’ve won a lot of series this year, and we’ve been alright on the road as well, and that’s what it boils down to. It’s a 3 game series now and we need to go on the road and take 2 out of 3. But, no, there is no loss of hope by any means just by losing this ballgame.”
Friday is a scheduled travel day for both teams, with the series resuming on Saturday evening in Fort Wayne with Game 3 scheduled for a 6:05 pm start.
1 Down, 2 To Go: A Quick Interview With Timber Rattlers Catcher Rafael Neda
by Kevin Kimmes
Last night in Game 1 of the best of 5 Midwest League Championship series, Timber Rattlers catcher Rafael Neda scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th to give the team a walk-off win and a 1-0 advantage over the Fort Wayne Tin Caps. This morning I took a few moments to talk with Rafael about last night’s performance and what it means to him to be this far into the playoffs.
CCC: Last night in Game 1 of the Championship series, you had 2 hits and drove in a run. You then scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th to win the game for the Rattlers. What was going through your mind as you watched the pitch go wild?
RN: I was just expecting something out of the catchers reach and I was going to score no matter what.
CCC: With your offense factoring heavily in last night’s win, you drove in Max Walla in the 4th and then started the rally in the 10th, are you approaching your at bats differently in the post season, or are you just looking for good pitches and taking advantage of what you see?
RN: Not at all. I’m just trying to put the ball in play and that’s it. I’m not doing anything different, anything special, I’m just trying to put the ball in play, that’s it.
CCC: Finally, what does it mean to you to have gone this far into the playoffs and what is different about this years squad compared to last years?
RN: It’s been really, really fun so far, and of course, we don’t want this to end. Of course, we still have to win two more games, and we’re just going to keep working hard to win those games. It’s been really, really fun so far, long year, but really, really fun.
The Timber Rattlers are scheduled to play Game 2 today at 12:05 pm. Follow me on Twitter (@kevinkimmes) to get updates as the Timber Rattlers press ever closer to the Midwest League Championship.
Talking Playoffs With Timber Rattlers Manager Matt Erickson
by Kevin Kimmes
After Thursday nights loss to the Beloit Snappers, I sat down with Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson to discuss the playoffs, and what effect winning the first half has on a team.
CCC: With next week being the beginning of the playoffs, what preparations have you and the coaching staff put in place to make sure that the team is ready for the next phase of this season?
ME: We’ve talked a little bit about our pitching staff and how we want to set it up. I don’t know if we’re totally committed to it yet, we’re still talking about some things there, so I don’t know if I want to release that quite yet, but the overall health of the team is important. You want to be as healthy as you can and it was unfortunate we lost (Greg) Hopkins in our last home-stand to a ruptured quad, so he’s done for the season.
Tomorrow (Friday) and the next three days, I’ll rest people who need rest, and those who are healthy will play, and hopefully we can get on a little run here.
CCC: With the new infusion of talent in several players that have been added recently, along with the constant churn that A-ball has as guys go up, guys go down, are there guys you are going to be looking towards more than others? Possibly those that have been with the team longer?
ME: Yeah, it’s pretty much that you’re going to run the hot hand out there when the game is on the line. Right now it is very much a developmental stage, and it really is throughout the season. You don’t really always have the matchups that you really want, but you’re going to get innings to the guys that are up, at least as far as the pitching staff is concerned, but yeah, there will be a bit more matching up in the post season. Whoever is throwing the ball good down there is going to get the ball.
CCC: With winning the first half, do you feel that it’s more of an advantage or a disadvantage, considering how sports have been the last several years where we’ve seen a lot of teams take a hot hand from the end of the season and run it all the way to the championship?
ME: Sure. I’m never going to argue with winning. Whether it be at the beginning of the season, the middle, or the end, but you’re right. Most of the teams, especially in baseball the last few years, are the teams that get hot towards the end and have a belief, and that’s really the run that we got on in the first half.
It was really a similar situation in the first half, as to how it ended. These guys (Beloit Snappers) came in the series before the last, we were up by a game or two, and we swept them at home which pretty much locked up the first half for us. We were playing good baseball, and we were on a run. Now, they’re playing good baseball, us, not so much at the moment. Hopefully, we have 4 games left at the end of the season and we can find that belief and take that right into the playoffs.
The Timber Rattlers are 1-1 in their last 2 games, with Saturday’s game being postponed and rescheduled as part of a double header this afternoon against the Burlington Bees.
The first round of the playoffs kicks off on Wednesday, with the Rattlers on the road to face their as yet to be determined opponent. The series then comes home to Fox Cities Stadium for games two and three to be played this Thursday and Friday. Tickets are available through the teams official website.
It’s a Family Affair: The Lance Roenicke Interview
by Kevin Kimmes
With the second half of the Low A season now in full swing and the 2012 draft a recent memory, it was only a matter of time before the Timber Rattlers saw an infusion of new talent to replace those team members who have found themselves promoted to the next level. This year, one of those call ups came with a very recognizable name: Roenicke.
Lance Roenicke is the son of Brewers’ manager Ron Roenicke. Drafted in the 25th round of the 2012 Amateur Draft by Milwaukee, Roenicke was signed on June 15th and promoted to the Rattlers roster after only playing in 3 games for the Helena Brewers in the Pioneer League where he batted .538 with an on base percentage of .571. So far, in 6 games with the Rattlers he has continued his hot start batting .529 with a .556 OBP.
On Saturday afternoon, I took a few minutes to discuss what it’s like coming from a baseball family, what he attributes his strong start to, and what it means to be on a team who is already playoff bound.
CCC: Lance, you come from a baseball family. Your dad played for 8 years in the majors, coached for 10 plus, and is currently the manager of the Brewers. Your uncle, Gary, played for 10 years, and your cousin Josh is currently with the Colorado Rockies. What advantage do you think you have coming from a baseball family?
LR: It’s an advantage just being around the lifestyle. It’s a different lifestyle and there’s a lot of games so you just have to bare with it, but I’ve been around the game my whole life. I watched my dad manage in the minors in the Dodger’s organization and then being with the big league team, with the Angels, for 11 years, so I’ve been around the game for a long time. I’ve seen a lot of great players, worked with a lot of great coaches, so I think just being around the game has tremendously helped me.
CCC: What piece of advice did you take away from all of this in order to propel you to where you are today?
LR: Just that you have to work hard, that is the biggest thing. Every level that you move up, the talent level is going to be that much greater, so you have to continue to get better, and that’s why guys are in the majors, they found ways to get better every year. I was doing well in Helena, so they brought me up here, and while I wasn’t playing right away, you just have to keep working, keep sticking with it, and keep getting better here, move on to the next level, keep getting better there. You just have to find ways to keep improving your game to separate yourself from others.
CCC: Speaking of Helena, you only played 3 games there before being called up to the Timber Rattler roster. So far in 6 games with Wisconsin you are batting .529 with a .556 OBP. What do you attribute this success to?
LR: Just grinding out at bats. I’m trying to have the best quality at bats that I can because the game of baseball is tough and you get hit. You can go 0 for 5 with five line outs or you can go 4 for 4 with 4 broken bat singles, so I just continue to work on putting a good swing on the ball, taking balls, swinging at good pitches and having quality at bats.
CCC: Your promotion was obviously tied to Jason Rogers being promoted to Brevard County. With Rogers being an All-Star, do you feel any additional pressure filling in that spot that Rogers left on the team?
LR: There’s going to be pressure regardless, but I don’t really feel it that much because I focus on each day, working hard, trying to get better each day. So if I’m in the lineup or not, I’m going to work hard and try to contribute the best that I can.
CCC: With the Rattlers already having punched their ticket to the post-season, what is your biggest focus for the second half of the season?
LR: Momentum. You see teams, like last year if you watched the World Series, the Cardinals had a great run at the end there and carried it through the post season. Winning the first half is huge as it gives us a ticket to the playoffs, but we need to have a good second half to push us through the playoffs and to have a good playoff run.
CCC: Finally, coming in mid-season do you find the team to be pretty welcoming and how has the transition been so far?
LR: I’ll tell you what, this team has some energy. This is a great group of guys with great chemistry here. They have been very welcoming of Mitch (Haniger) and I right away, and we feel like we get along with these guys pretty well and it’s fun. There’s a lot of games and you need to find ways to entertain yourselves and these players enjoy coming to the ballpark every day.
You can follow Lance on Twitter: @LTRoenicke.
Talking to Tommy Toledo: Rattlers Reliever
by Kevin Kimmes
Before yesterday’s game, I had an opportunity to talk to Timber Rattlers relief pitcher Tommy Toledo about what it has been like seeing his childhood dreams come true, and the accident that almost derailed them.
CCC: Tommy, when did you first realize that you could make a living as a pitcher?
TT: I remember the draft was pretty exciting back in college. So for me and my family the ultimate goal was to play pro ball, so after I got drafted, I was really excited about it. That’s when I realized it was going to be a profession.
CCC: Speaking of family, your parents came to town for the game at Miller Park. What was that like?
TT: It was exciting. I flew them out for the two nights just for the Miller Park game. I didn’t really expect to pitch either, because I was in the relief club, but I got really lucky and was able to throw in front of them which was really cool.
CCC: I saw your dad the following day sitting behind home plate wearing the University of Toledo Sweatshirt.
TT: Yeah, my dad is a trip. He loves it. He loves everything about baseball, so he’s been following everybody on the team.
CCC: As you mentioned, your current role is as a relief pitcher. Any aspirations of becoming a starter?
TT: I’m already living the dream right now, so whatever I can do to get on the mound is great. I have no problems coming on in relief, or starting. Any way that I can help out the team, anything at all, that’s up to them. It doesn’t bother me at all.
CCC: In college, you were involved in an accident that lead to you taking a line drive shot to the face. Can you tell me a little about that?
TT: It was a line drive right off the bat in college. I didn’t really get a chance to put a glove in front of it and it hit me pretty square in the face. I had a bunch of fractures and some plates. In total, I had 8 plates and 36 screws, so that’s all under my face right now. It was just one of those freak accidents, so you’ve just got to get over it.
CCC: So, when you take the mound, is there still any lingering apprehension that comes to mind from that incident?
TT: No, not at all. I remember the first day I had to come back. I just wanted to get back out there and throw again. I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t think about it. I just wanted to play. I had sat out the year before, so I just wanted to get out and play again. That’s just what I wanted to do.
CCC: Now, with you being a Florida guy, how are you adjusting to the weather in Wisconsin?
TT: For the first month it was a little cold, I won’t lie, it was a little chilly. It was cold for me, it was cold for everybody. Now, it’s starting to get nice. It’s really nice outside right now. So, it was a little adjustment made, but it’s over now, so we’ll see.
CCC: What players did you learn the most from watching growing up?
TT: As a little kid I grew up watching Cal Ripken Jr. and Mariano Rivera. He’s my favorite pitcher, so I was bummed to hear him get hurt a couple of days ago. I grew up watching those two guys, and I remember watching Greg Maddux. I loved watching him pitch. My dad helped me out when I was little. He coached me the whole time. So, it was just a bunch of different people.
CCC: Finally, what do you think it has taken to get you to where you are at right now?
TT: Hard work. Just trying to get out there every day, staying on a routine. A lot of it is God given. I’m just thankful that every day is another chance to get out there and play. My parents, my family and my friends have also been very supportive.
Tommy is currently 3-0 with 1 save and an ERA of 3.00 in 8 appearances. He can be found online at @TommyToledo13 on Twitter.
We at Cream City Cables wish Tommy all the best this season, and look forward to his continued success.
6 Questions With Max Walla
by Kevin Kimmes
On Friday night, Max Walla hit his first homerun as a Timber Rattler. While this accomplishment in and of itself is commendable, it becomes something even bigger when you consider where the feat was accomplished. Miller Park.
(Note: This is the second time that Max has accomplished this feat as he hit one out during the Rising Stars Game at Miller Park last year).
I had a chance to talk to Max the following day about the homer, how he prepped for the game, as well as what inspires him to be the best that he can be.
CCC: On Friday Night you collected your first homer as a Wisconsin Timber Rattler. Can you tell me what was going through your head as the ball was leaving the park?
MW: Well, obviously I put a good swing on it, I hit it a little high, and just was hoping it had the distance to get out. You know, it’s surreal circling the bases of a major league ballpark and hearing the canons go off, that’s pretty cool.
CCC: Obviously playing at Miller Park required a different level of preparation. What adjustments did yo make in BP to account for this?
MW: It doesn’t really require any different sort of preparation. It’s the same game, maybe just on a little bigger stage. You just try to focus on the basics. In BP you want to see if you can get a few more out of the park than normal, but you just have fun with it. You don’t get to take BP there too often.
CCC: As one of the youngest players on the team, what advice have you received from the other players and coaches so far?
MW: Well, just to slow the game down and keep doing what you’re doing. You’ve got to remember what makes you valuable to the organization as a ball player, so obviously you’ve got to know your role and try to improve the things that you don’t do as well to make yourself a more complete player.
CCC: Being from New Mexico, how are you adjusting to the weather here in Wisconsin?
MW: Well, you know Albuquerque gets pretty cold in the wintertime, so I mean, it’s not too much of an adjustment. Yeah it’s a little bit windy, but like I said, I’ve played in stuff like this before. Obviously, this isn’t ideal conditions, but really when are they? So really, it’s not too bad and hopefully it warms up really soon.
CCC: Any pregame rituals?
MW: Yeah, you know, I do like to read the Bible a little bit and pray. I am a Christian so I mainly try to focus on playing for Christ, not for myself or anybody else. That’s something that God has given me so I hope to glorify him while I play to the best of my abilities.
CCC: Final question, who is the player that you learned the most from watching their game?
MW: I think in recent years, it would be Jordan Pacheco. He’s been up and down with the Rockies this year. I had a chance to work out with him this off season. He’s been in the big leagues and I’ve learned a lot from him regarding on-field routines, off-field routines, as well as good ways to go about your business. I’ve learned a lot from him, and am very thankful for him.
We at Cream City Cables would like to thank Max for taking time to talk with us, and wish him the best of luck as he continues to climb the ladder within the Brewers organization.
Splitsville: Rattlers and Bees Split First Double Header of the Year
by Kevin Kimmes
“It’s a great day for a ball game; let’s play two!” – Ernie Banks
Tonight, the Timber Rattlers did exactly that as they faced off in the season’s first double-header against the Burlington Bees (Low A Oakland Athletics). The change of schedule was brought about by inclement weather on Monday which caused the scheduled series opener to be cancelled and rescheduled as one of two 7 inning games to be played on Tuesday night.
Game 1 saw the Timber Rattlers send Matt Miller (0-3, 6.75) to the mound to face off against the Bee’s Drew Granier (2-0, 1.69) in what would be a decidedly lopsided battle. Granier would pitch all seven innings of game 1 holding the Rattlers to a single run scored in the bottom of the 5th inning when 1st baseman Greg Hopkins scored on a sacrifice fly from 2nd baseman Carlos George.
However, the damage had already been done as the Bees had stung the Rattlers for 3 runs in the top of the 5th. They would put up two more insurance runs in the top of the 7th for a final score of 5-1.
Game 2 saw the Timber Rattlers send Drew Gagnon (1-0, 1.26) to the mound to face off against the Bee’s Jonathon Joseph (0-1, 5.93). The Rattlers, backed by a solid outing by Gagnon, would put up the only runs of the game in the bottom of the 4th inning when both designated hitter Brandon Macias and second baseman Carlos George would score to give the team a 2-0 lead.
Gagnon would pick up the win pitching 5.1 scoreless innings and striking out 6 batters in the process. Finding himself in trouble with one out in the 6th inning and the bases loaded, Gagnon would be replaced by Seth Harvey who would come on in relief and pick up his second save of the young season. Harvey would retire all five batters he faced in order, striking out four and improving his ERA to 1.50.
The split brings the Timber Rattlers record to 6-6 on the season tied with Beloit, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Peoria. The team will play the final game of this home stand Wednesday evening at 6:35pm before heading out on the road for 6 games starting Thursday.
One other note from tonight’s contest: Jason Rogers saw his streak of consecutive games reaching base end at 11 when he failed to get on base in the second game of tonight’s double-header. Rogers, however, continues to lead the team in Batting Average (.317), RBI (8), OBP (.417), and Slugging (.537). Additionally, he is tied with Chadwin Stang for the most homeruns on the team with 2 a piece.
Game(s) at a Glance:
Game 1:
Player(s) of the Game: Nick Rickels and Royce Consigli – Each with 2 runs scored for Burlington
WP: Drew Granier ( 2-0)
LP: Matt Miller (0-3)
Time: 1:52
Game 2:
Player of the Game: Seth Harvey
WP: Drew Gagnon (1-0)
LP: Jonathan Joseph (0-1)
Save: Seth Harvey (2)
Time: 2:07
Attendance: 482
Third Times a Charm: Timber Rattlers Walkoff to Win First Game of the Season
by Kevin Kimmes
On Saturday afternoon the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers faced off against the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the third and final game of their season opening homestand. The Timber Rattlers, who were 0-2 going into Saturday’s contest, put the ball in the hands of right hander Brandon Williamson, while the Kernels countered with lefty Ryan Crowley.
Not wasting any time, the Timber Rattlers struck first as center fielder Chadwin Stang recorded his first hit of the young season, a double, which led off the bottom of the 1st inning. Two batters later, Stang would reach home on a Jason Rogers double. Rogers, who was hitting in the designated hitter position on Saturday, would also steal third, but would find himself stranded as the next two hitters struck out.
The Kernels would answer with a run of their own in the top of the 3rd thanks to a solo homerun from shortstop Trevor Hairgrove, tying the game at one run a piece.
The Kernels would take the lead, 2-1, in the top of the 5th when center fielder Chevy Clarke singled, stole second, was advance to third on a grounder from catcher Carlos Lugo, and eventually scoring on a passed ball during Hairgrove’s at bat. The Rattlers answered back in the bottom of the 5th on a solo homer from Stang, tying the score at 2 a piece.
The 6th inning would see the Kernels create a run out of no hits as both third baseman Kaleb Cowart and designated hitter Frazier Hall drew walks. Cowart, who stole 2nd during Hall’s at bat, would be advanced to third on a fielder’s choice which removed Hall from the base paths, and placed first baseman Gary Mitchell at 1st. During Clarke’s at bat, Mitchell broke for 2nd, reaching easily as catcher Tyler Roberts’ throw got past second baseman Greg Hopkins, allowing Cowart to steal home ahead of the throw to the plate. This brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the Kernels.
The Rattlers answered back in the 7th when right fielder John Dishon drew a walk to start off the inning which allowed Stang to reach 1st on a fielder’s choice in the next at bat. A Hopkins grounder would advance Stang to second, and he would score off of a Roger’s RBI single to again tie the game, now at 3 a piece.
The 9th would see both teams slugging it out. The Kernels would manufacture 3 runs thanks to a Hairgrove RBI single that scored Clarke from third and a double from center fielder Ryan Jones which would score Hairgrove and second baseman Kevin Mosequit. The Kernels were now in the drivers seat with a lead of 6-3 with only 3 outs remaining, but it would not be enough to complete the series sweep.
With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Dishon walked, eventually scoring on a Stang RBI double bringing the score to 6-4. Hopkins and Rogers would both walk to load the bases, still with only one out. A single from left fielder Ben McMahan would score both Stang and Hopkins, and in the process, tie the game at 6 a piece.
First baseman Parker Berberet would bury the dagger with a walkoff single that scored Roger’s from third and gave the Timber Rattlers their first win of the 2012 season.
The Rattlers will return home to Time Warner Cable Field on Thursday April 12th as they take on Peoria. Game time is set for 6:35 pm.
Game at a Glance:
Player of the Game: Chadwin Stang – 3/4 with 2 doubles, 1 homerun and 2 RBIs
WP: Stephen Peterson (1-0)
LP: Logan Odom (0-1)
TIME: 3:05
ATTN: 1,192
