The Weston Rattler's D Team defeated the West Pines Cobras on Saturday 7-6 in wild pitch walk-off fashion to grab a share of 1st place in the 11 and Under AAA South Division with the South Florida Stars & The Cobras. The Rattler's D (the 'D' stands for Dimas) used three pitchers including great relief performances from Mason Gates and Albert Sanchez to keep a tough Cobra team in check until the Rattlers could mount a comeback. "It's been an interesting season", remarked Head Coach Dimas Martinez adding, "We've had a few freakish injuries this season. Our catcher, Bobby Moya went down with a severe finger laceration and second baseman, Stevie Schisler ripped a tendon on his hand but we've been able to overcome those with great fundamental baseball from the whole team, that's always the key for us and it was today".
The Rattlers D were down four runs early but pecked away until tying it with a five run fifth inning and with the score tied 6-6 heading into the sixth, the 'fans' (and I use that term loosely when speaking of parents) were treated to an amazing inning of perfect baseball.
The Cobras (the visiting team) put men on first and third with no outs, Sanchez was on the mound after relieving Gates who had tired and a makeshift infield ready to do battle. With the infield in (and giving them second base on a steal) the Cobras hit a grounder to second baseman Richie Hernandez who fired to the plate where the 'Bambino Latino' Bobby Moya blocked the plate to get the out. The next batter popped out to third baseman Nico Boza in foul territory for the second out. With the bases then loaded, the Cobras hitter lofted a fly ball to Petey Hernandez in center for the third out. The Rattlers then came to bat with the top of the lineup due up. Mason Gates, one of the best hitters in the league was down 0-2 before anyone had a chance to breathe but Mason knew what he was doing. "The pitcher had thrown me a change up in my other at bat with two strikes and I thought the pitcher was going to do it again", said Mason after the game. He did and Mason ripped a single to left, then stole second. Boza moved him over to third with a grounder to the right side and then Mason scored on the wild pitch to win the game. "It's a great win and a boost for a team playing up in age this season", said Martinez who's team is actually comprised of ten year olds . "I don't have a son on this team and that makes it easy for me to do what's right in teaching them to play the game the right way without any preference or favorites. When they play like this though it makes all the baloney of coaching worth it", he added.
Assistant coach Ed Schisler agreed, "This is a young team that is coming together and maturing as the playoffs approach. We have a great chance to make some noise in the postseason".
The Rattlers D team take on the Venom on Monday and if they can win that game it could set up a game for first place next weekend against the South Florida Stars (7-2). We'll keep you posted!