Rattlers strike late to defeat Chargers

SAN ANTONIO – With no district games on its schedule last week, the Boerne Champion baseball team played two non-district contests before resuming 26-5A action this week.

The Chargers defeated O’Connor Tuesday at home, 6-2, and then lost to Reagan the next day at Northeast Sports Park, 5-3.

Champion is 11-4 overall and resumes district play this week with two games against Alamo Heights. The Chargers were home Tuesday to host Alamo Heights and then play at the Mules’ home field Friday.

In last Wednesday’s contest, Champion was able to jump out to a 3-0 advantage by the third inning but couldn’t hold the lead.

In the second inning, the Chargers scored twice with two outs. Sam Miller was hit by a pitch and then AJ Grizzaffi singled to put two runners on.

Sawyer Smith doubled to bring in courtesy runners Mark Thompson and Caiden Cruz and it was 2-0.

In the third inning, a walk by Owen Kuhl and a single from Cal Isley put two Chargers on base. A hard hit by Miller allowed Kuhl to score and moved Isley to third but the rally stopped there with Champion up 3-0.

Reagan answered with a good bottom half of the third and scored 3 runs. Two doubles and two singles allowed the Reagan to tie it up at 3-3.

It stayed there until the bottom of the sixth when the Rattlers pulled ahead despite a double play by the Chargers.

Reagan put a runner on and tried to move him to second with a sac bunt, but Champion turned the double play and cleared the bases.

However, the Rattlers answered with four straight singles – all with two outs – and pushed in two runs to take its first lead of the game at 5-3.

Champion still had one more at bat in the top of the seventh but went down in order with three pop ups on six pitches to end it.

The Rattlers outhit the Chargers, 10-6, and both teams committed one error.

Sawyer Smith banged out a double and a single and pushed in 2 runs, Garland White hit 2 singles, while Cal Isley and AJ Grizzaffi both singled once.

Owen Kuhl walked and scored, while Cruz and Thompson plated one run each as courtesy runners.

Grizzaffi went 5 innings on the bump and gave up 6 hits, 3 runs, no walks and he struck out 7.

Aidan Smith threw in the sixth and yielded 4 hits, 2 runs and had no walks or strikeouts.