Evergreen Park, IL (May 6, 2011) - Rob Rabakozi's great day at the plate helped the Rams (12-10; 9-5) beat Evergreen Park 8-4 this afternoon. The senior catcher went 3 for 4 with a double, home run, and three RBI. The homer, a solo shot in the top of the sixth inning, was Rob's first of the season and the 100th hit of his varsity high school career.
"Rob struggled a bit offensively early in the season," said Coach Erickson, "but he has really been dialed in the past two weeks."
Jake Stano, who leads the team in hitting, also added two hits and three RBI today. The Rams scored early when they picked up three runs in the first inning on hits by Rabakozi, Brandon Hines, and Stano. After the Mustangs answered with one run in the bottom of the frame off starter Garret Rhodes, Mike Falbo's second inning double plated Matt Javorski and gave the Rams a 4-1 lead.
Reavis added two runs in the fourth inning on hits from Javorski, Rabakozi, and Stano and put up two more insurance runs in the sixth on Rabakozi's round tripper and Zack Mackowiak's RBI single.
Rhodes, who threw 4.1 innings, picked up the victory. Mackowiak relieved Rhodes in the fifth inning, worked out of the jam, and eventually recorded his first save of the season. "Rhodes didn't have his best stuff today, but he battled and kept us in the game. Zack did a great job in relief and helped preserve this big win for us."
The victory puts the Rams in second place in the conference, one game behind the Richards Bulldogs.
Tomorrow, the Rams will celebrate senior day when they take on Indiana state champs, Andrean High School at Czarnecki Field at 10:00.