Burbank, IL (March 23, 2013) - Reavis scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Riverside Brookfield 5-4 Saturday on a cold and wet Czarnecki Field. The one out rally started with singles by Dan Meskill and Joe O'Hara. Matt Barajas then loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. With two strikes on him, Jose Romero lined a hit to right field that plated Meskill. One batter later, the Rams tied the game on John Deir's RBI walk. Leo Hernandez then hit a grounder to the RB third baseman whose throw sailed wide of home allowing Barajas to score the game-winning run.
"Our hitters did a great job not focusing on the score, but rather on just getting on base for the next batter," said Coach Erickson. "We had good at-bats all game and we finally saw the fruits of our labor in the final inning."
The Rams opened the scoring with one run each in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. Velez doubled over the left fielder's head in the first and eventually scored on a wild pitch, and Deir scored in the second when Velez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Riverside Brookfield scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning off starter Jose Romero. The junior stifled Bulldog hitters through three innings before he ran into control problems. "Jose had electric stuff early on, but tired a bit in the fourth," said Erickson. "Over-all, though, I was pretty pleased with his outing." Junior righthander Jorge Hernandez (pictured) came in to spell Romero and shut down the RB hitters the rest of the way. He pitched the final four innings, allowing no runs on two hits and three strike-outs to pick up the victory. "Jorge pounded the zone all game and on a cold day like today when it's tough to hit, it's imperative that you don't allow free passes." Jorge walked no one in his four innings of work.
"This was a great way to start the season. It's just nice to finally get on the field to play some baseball and hopefully we can take this early momentum into next week and our spring trip." Monday the Rams take on Summer State Champions Lyons Township at home.