Staff Photo/Preston Byers Rabelais' Christian Haught prepares to take a swing at a pitch during the Vikings' game against Poland on Wednesday at Eastwood Field.
NILES — Mother Nature makes another appearance Wednesday night, forcing a break in the Poland-Rabelais non-conference baseball showdown at Eastwood Field after the fourth inning as severe storms are predicted for the Niles area. It was done.
After the bottom of the fourth inning, when rain began to fall on the players and fans, the game's umpires, coaches, and Eastwood Field groundskeeper Noah Bird gathered near home plate to discuss whether the teams should start the fifth inning. In the end, the match was officially suspended and was scheduled to resume today.
Rabelais head coach Ed Anthony said in his interinning press conference that Bird correctly predicted the weather was going to take a turn for the worst. Immediately after the game was suspended, it started raining heavily, and a few minutes later thunder could be heard.
Although neither was too pleased to see another spring storm arrive, both coaches expressed a desire to restart the game and play seven full innings. Wednesday's cancellation is just one example of how weather can disrupt schedules for local sports teams, causing inconvenience for coaches, players and parents.
“It was very frustrating. Every coach goes through this. When it comes to practice, you can ask any coach, and no one is going to say they want to be in the gym, in the barn, in the parking lot, etc. think.” Anthony said. “We need to play. Any coach would say that and it's very frustrating. I've been doing this for years and this is probably the wettest spring I've ever seen. I've seen some wet games and this was really bad for any team.”
Poland head coach Rich Murray's Bulldogs appeared to be finding their way back into form after four at-bats, but he echoed Anthony's frustration.
“It was tough.” Murray said. “I think the hardest thing is keeping the pitchers ready. But we've been practicing hard in the gym and I think we've been playing pretty well. So we're really waiting for the weather to break. I'm doing it.”
Poland's pitching proved to be a problem in Wednesday's fourth inning. Starting pitcher Ryan Dirulo had six strikeouts and allowed only one hit, but he loaded the bases in the first and second innings.
Dirulo walked the first three batters in Rabelais' lineup while struggling to find control. However, he was able to strike out Rabelais' catcher against Brogan Collins in his first at-bat. This strikeout then connected with third base, and Dirulo escaped with three walks and three strikeouts in the bottom of the first inning, leaving three runners stranded on base.
Momentum briefly continued when DiLullo returned to the mound in the bottom of the second inning. Dirulo stole the leadoff ground ball and struck out the fourth batter of the day. Dirulo then walked Eric Leibold, then walked Owen Boone, and singled opposing pitcher Landon Branstetter to load the bases for the second consecutive inning, and control was lost again.
However, DiLullo and the Bulldogs' defense came up big in critical moments, including forcing Dylan Simpson to fly out in the bottom of the second inning to keep the game scoreless.
In the third, Dirulo walked Collins and committed a balk, putting yet another runner in scoring position with no outs. However, Rabelais was unable to capitalize on that mistake, leaving Collins at third base at the end of the third inning.
Between the third and fourth innings, raindrops began to fall from the sky, causing some fans to seek shelter from the rain. Both teams continued to play, and by the fourth inning the rain had stopped, giving hope that all seven innings could be played.
Poland's offense was at its best in a half-inning in the top of the fourth, during which they put three runners on base, but were lined out to second base on a double play, with two still on base. Finished the round.
Dirulo came into his own in the second half of Wednesday's inning, striking out the first two batters and forcing a flyout on the first pitch of his third at-bat.
In total, Dirulo allowed one hit, gave up six walks, and had six strikeouts in four innings. Murray said while the pitcher issued a walk. “Too many” As a hitter, he praised Dirulo for finding a way out of a logjam to keep the game scoreless.
Labray's Branstetter allowed three hits and had four strikeouts, becoming the only Vikings player to get a hit off DiLullo on Wednesday.
After the game, Anthony said he expected Rabelais' hit to be successful. “catch up” For that pitching. Weather permitting, the Vikings and Bulldogs will get that chance when they resume play in the top of the fifth inning.
Polish first baseman Aiden Thompson is expected to start and lead off the inning when play resumes.The contest is scheduled to resume at Eastwood Field at approximately 7:15 p.m. today after the conclusion of another game starting at 5 p.m.
Do you have any interesting stories? Email Preston Byers at pbyers@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @PresByers.
