This weekend, the Liberal Rattler 18u team lost 2-2 in the Goddard tournament. The Rattlers lost to the Wichita Canes 10-4 in the evening game on Saturday after defeating the Wichita Grays 15-4. Liberal defeated the Kansas Rattlers 5-3 on Sunday morning after defeating a youthful Wichita Canes club 8-1.
The Rattlers won by a run rule on Saturday afternoon after scoring in each inning against the Grays. Three goals in the third, two in the fourth, seven in the fifth, and one in the first were all scored by Liberal. The Grays were outscored 9–8 by Liberal. In order to win, Nathan Knelsen pitched the entire game, going all five innings. Bren Kappelmann was 3–4 offensively. With three RBIs, a triple, and a double, Bentlee Betts was 2-5. Blayden Betts had a 2-3 record. Alec Madden doubled and Landon Martinez tripled.
The tournament was won by the Wichita Canes, who played the Rattlers on Saturday night. The Canes scored three goals in the second half and four in the third, although Liberal scored four in the first. In the fifth, they added three more. 9-3, the Canes outscored the Rattlers. Blayden Betts went two to three. Jackson Stanfield had a triple with three RBI and was 1-3.
Sunday’s 8:30 AM matchup between the Rattlers and another Wichita Canes team marked the start of bracket play. Liberal won 8-1 after scoring in the first five innings. For the victory, Alex Schwindt pitched all seven innings in 86 pitches, with two walks and five strikeouts. At the plate, Schwindt was 1-2 with two runs and two RBIs.
In a late-morning, early-afternoon game, the Kansas Rattlers defeated the Liberal Rattlers 5-3. Liberal, however, defeated the Kansas Rattlers 6-2. In the defeat, liberal pitching walked nine. Liberal failed to cross home plate until a three-run seventh inning, and the Kansas Rattlers scored one in the third and four in the fourth. Landon Martinez had a triple and was 2-3. Kappelmann, Bren, was 2-3. Alex Schwindt and Jackson Stanfield also tripled.
On Saturday, Liberal, who is 5-10, will compete in Garden City’s competition.
