THE RATTLERS BATS CAME ALIVE FOR THE WIN OVER THE BLUES, 10-4 Rattlers pitching struck out ten batters in the game and 203 batters on the season San Luis Obispo, CA (June 29, 2010) – Joe Etcheverry (Northern Illinois University) and Zach Steele (Cuesta College) were one hit away from hitting for the cycle. All they needed was a home run. This is the first time this year the Rattlers had a player that was one hit away from hitting for the cycle, especially two players in the same night. Joe Etcheverry went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, a run, and a walk. Zach Steele went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs. The Rattlers had a late inning five run Joe Etcheverry was one of the two Rattlers players rally to seal the win. That ended the that were a hit away from hitting for the cycle Rattlers losing streak and the Blues winning streak. The SLO Rattlers won 10-4 over the SLO Blues. Bobby Bucker (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) reached first on an error with one out in the first inning. A double play did not help the Rattlers. Bobby Buckner went 2-for-4 with a run and a walk. Starting pitcher Todd Simko (Cuesta College) picked off the base runner at first base for the first out in the bottom of the first inning. Todd Simko got his second start of the season and second against the Blues. He went three innings, gave three earned runs, and one walk. Joe Etcheverry singled to start of the top of the second inning. Daniel Howell (Santa Barbara City College) reached first on an error. Zach Steele doubled down the left field line with one out scoring Joe Etcheverry. Matt Anderson (Cuesta College) singled up the middle scoring Daniel Howell. Matt Anderson then stole second base. Chris Lauritzen (Santa Barbara City College) singled up the middle scoring Zach Steele and Matt Anderson. Chris Lauritzen stole second with two out. The Rattlers led 40. Matt Anderson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs, and a walk.
The SLO Blues scored one run off of two hits in the bottom of the second inning Joe Etcheverry walked with one out in the third inning, followed by Daniel Howell’s walk. Zach Steele singled with two out, loading the bases. The Rattlers were not able to score in the inning. The Blues got two more runs off of one hit in the bottom of the third inning. That made the score 4-3 Rattlers. Bobby Buckner walked with two out in the top of the fourth inning. The Blues got one run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at five. Pitcher Marc Damon (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) came in the fourth inning and pitched three innings. He gave up three hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck out six. Matt Anderson singled with two outs in the top of the sixth. Bobby Buckner singled up the middle with one out in the seventh inning. Chris Hoo (Francis HS/Cal Poly SLO) reached on a fielder’s choice. Joe Etcheverry tripled to right center scoring Chris Hoo. The Rattlers led 6-4 Roberts Vickers (College of the Canyons) started off the top of the eighth inning with a walk. Zach Steele tripled to right center scoring Robert Vickers. Matt Anderson singled scoring Zach Steele. Bobby Buckner singled with two out. Chris Hoo walked to load the bases. Joe Etcheverry doubled to left center clearing the bases. The double scored Matt Anderson, Bobby Buckner, and Chris Hoo. Daniel Howell walked to put runners at first and second. The Blues had runners at second and third and no one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Mike Massari (University of Redlands) was able to get the next three batters to strike out swinging. He came in the seventh inning and pitched two innings. He gave up two hits, one walk, and struck out three. Mike Massari got the win; he is 2-2 on the season. Matt Anderson walked with one out in the top of the ninth and moved to second on a groundout. The Blues had the bases loaded and two outs and the Rattlers got out of the inning without out giving up a run. DJ Gunderson (Santa Barbara City College) pitched the bottom of the ninth inning. He gave up three hits and struck out one. The series continues tomorrow June 30 at 6:35 p.m. ### For more information please visit http://www.slorattlers.com or email Cherie Smith at csmith@slorattlers.com. The next home series will be July 3-5 against the MLB Academy Barons. It will be a league series.