Returning Sophomores
Top Row: Kyle Pietak, Mike Roberts, Dan Markoya, Dillion Meaney, Chad Rife
Center Row: Tyler Borzileri, Jake Perkins, Kyle Pecorino
Bottom Row: Nick Arapkiles, Kris Vierra, Brandon Buchanan, Brandon Alvarez, Bryce Wadleigh
"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime."
-- Babe Ruth
Rattler Baseball Even Nearing Midway Point
The Otero Junior College Rattler baseball team has 12 of 30 Region IX games completed and are sitting at 6-6 in region play. Not only has the first part of the schedule been cold weather wise, the Rattler bats have been cool at the plate. Solid pitching performances from the OJC staff have help to offset the slow start offensive. Sophomore pitchers Kris Vierra (Artesia, NM) Jake Perkins (Olathe, CO), Dan Markoya (Carbondale, CO), and Dillon Meaney (Westminster, CO) have all put in solid performances on the hill. This past weekend against McCook, all four starters went the distance, and each recorded a win.
“The guys have been working hard to make adjustments at the plate,” said first year head coach Chris Carrillo. “Their efforts are starting to payoff. Last weekend against McCook, we had the best offensive performance of the year.”
The Rattlers getting their bats warmed up is coming at a good time, with a good number of Region IX games on the agenda for the next two weeks. The Rattlers will face Western Nebraska, Trinidad, and Lamar in the next two weeks, which will take them past the half way mark in conference play. The Rattlers next home game is set for April 19-20 when they play host to a tough Northeastern Junior College club.
“Defensively, we are doing a good job of taking care of the baseball,” sated Carrillo, whose squad is 14-20 overall this season. “We have done a good job of limiting both physical and mental mistakes”
In the field, the Rattlers are led by sophomores Tyler Borzileri (Littleton, CO ) in center, Brandon Buchanan (Ft. Collins, CO) at short stop, Brandon Alvarez (Las Animas, CO) at second base, and Mike Roberts (Florence, CO) behind the plate. Freshman G.J. Henry (Denver, CO) at third base, and Bryce Pittsenberger (Las Vegas, NV) playing first base and hitting clean up.
“We are looking forward to the second half of the season,” added Carrillo. “We feel confident that we will be in the hunt at the end to April.” This year, only the top four teams advance to the Region IX tournament, which will be held on two weekends with the higher seed hosting a best two-of-three game series each weekend.
Explore the links below to find out more about the Rattler baseball team:
