Cane Cutters News

          The Cane Cutters stayed on the right track tonight with a shutout win against the Woodlands Strykers.  The game was all about pitching tonight as the Cane Cutters scored the only run of the game.

            The Cane Cutters and the Strykers only had one hit each through the fifth inning.  The Cane Cutters got the first hit of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Mitchell Nau singled.  The Strykers get not get a hit until the top of the fifth inning when Tim Redden singled.  Kaleb Manual also had five strikeouts through the first five innings.

            The top of the sixth inning brought the first real action of the game.  Brian Brightwell led off the game with a walk.  Ricardo Sanchez came up two batters later and doubled which put runners at second and third with only one out.  The next batter, Michael Aquino, flew out to Ladd Rhodes in right field.  The runner tagged on the fly out, but Rhodes gunned him down at home plate for the third out of the inning to keep the game scoreless.

            The Cane Cutters looked to get going in the bottom of the seventh inning.  The first two batters of the inning were struck out and put out, respectively.  Adam Seal came to the plate and hit a ball to the second baseman which tipped off his glove got past him for an error that allowed Seal to get on first.  Seal was able to advance to second on a wild pitch.  After advancing, Seal was removed from the game for Austin Roussel, a pinch runner.  With the next pitch, Rhodes drove a ball right over the shortstop’s head to bring in Roussel for the first run of the game putting the Cane Cutters up 1-0.

            The Strykers came to bat in the top of the eighth inning hoping to get the run back that they had just allowed in the previous inning.  Dan Perkins singled as the second batter of the inning.  Perkins advanced to second base on an error by the shortstop when he attempted to steal second base.  Manual struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

            The Strykers had one last chance to tie the ballgame in the top of the ninth inning.  Ricardo Sanchez led off the inning with a single.  Aquino came up next and grounded out to the shortstop who touched second and then threw to first to turn the double play.  The last batter lined out to the shortstop to end the game and give the Cane Cutters the 1-0 win.

            Rhodes gets the player of the game tonight for the Cane Cutters with him going 1-3 with one RBI.  He also had they key defensive play in the sixth inning that kept the Strykers off the board.

            Manual pitched an outstanding game for the Cane Cutters.  He pitched eight innings giving up three hits, three walks and striking out nine.  His record is now 5-1 on the season and leads the TCL in wins on the season.  Merrick Ardoin pitched the ninth inning to earn the save, his third of the season.  He pitched one inning giving up one hit.

            The Cane Cutters pushed their record to 15-14 on the season with the win tonight.  The Strykers’ record is now at 8-19. 

            Cane Cutter fans, don’t fret.  There are still plenty of games to catch your favorite baseball team.  Come on down Thirsty Thursday, July 5th, for one dollar Budweiser and Bud Light and to watch the Cane Cutters take on the Alexandria Aces.  July 5th is also redemption night, so you can use any ticket for a previous game that wasn’t yet used for admission–trade these at the box office for a comparable one.  It’s also military night—show us your military id and you and your immediate family get in free!  We can’t wait to see you there!