In their last match on Saturday afternoon in Weatherford, the Liberal Rattlers came together. The Rattlers defeated the Burkburnett 16u team 15–7 thanks to a home run from Landon Martinez to left center. They lost 15-5 to the Burkburnett 15u team and 19-5 to the Oklahoma City Mudcats on Friday, which was a long and hot day. In those two games, the Rattlers walked a total of 28 batters.
Over the weekend, the wind gusted between thirty and forty miles per hour. Additionally, Friday’s wind and heat caused the Rattler pitching staff to wilt. The Rattlers lost the game against the Mudcats at 2:00 pm after giving up 10 points in the first. Pitching Rattler walked twelve. Liberal was only outhit by the Mudcats 12-9. One mistake was made by both teams. Both Blayden Betts and Bentlee Betts went 2-3. Blayden doubled, and Bentlee drove home two runs. Manny Mendoza, Bren Kappelmann, and Alex Schwindt all contributed RBI base hits.
On Friday, the Rattlers faced Burkburnett 15u in game two. The Rattlers scored five points in the opening game. However, in the first, the Black Socks also scored five goals. Burkburnett ended the game with eight points in the fourth. In just four innings, Liberal walked an incredible sixteen batters. The Black Sox are outscored 9–6 by the Rattles. Blayden Betts had an RBI and was 2-2. Jackson Stanfield had an RBI and was 2-2. Manny Mendoza and Bren Kappelmann contributed RBI hits.
At Weatherford’s Rader Park on Saturday afternoon, the Rattlers secured an elusive victory. For a 5-5 tie, Burkburnett scored two goals in the first and three in the second, while the Rattlers scored three in the first and two in the second. With a six-run third to take an 11-5 lead, the Rattlers opened the game. Liberal added three in the sixth and one more in the fourth. Burk was outhit 10-9. Liberal made two mistakes while the Black Sox made three. Bren Kappelmann had three RBIs and was 2-2. 2-4 was Calvin Shackelford’s score. Blayden Betts had three RBIs, a double, and a 1-2 record. Landon Martinez had three RBIs, a home run, and a 1-2 record. With three runs, two RBIs, and a triple, Bentlee Betts was 1-3. Manny Mendoza had two runs, an RBI, and a 1-2 record. Alex Schwindt had three runs, a double, and a 1-2 record. For the victory, Bren Kappelmann pitched three innings and recorded four strikeouts. Jackson Stanfield gave up just one run in two innings of work.
Liberal plays on July 5 and 6 at Goddard and is 3-8.
