Video of Friday Night Rattler Game

    Here is video of the Rattler's Friday night loss to the Golden Giants at Joe Campbell stadium.
http://ksnt.com/2016/06/17/golden-giants-double-up-rattlers-lobos-top-brigade-in-mid-plains-baseball/

Rattlers Get 14-4 Win Over Golden Giants

From the Capital-Journal:

ROSSVILLE — The third annual Memorial Night at Joe Campbell Stadium had the ideal setting with the game between the Rossville Rattlers and Topeka Golden Giants.

The night honored the late Brett Cowdin, who coached at five Shawnee County high schools and founded both the Golden Giants (2005) and Rattlers (2011). The Mid-Plains League rivals hooked up in the finale of a three-game series and Rossville avoided the sweep with a 14-4, run-rule victory Saturday night.

“To see the guys have success on the field makes me feel great,” said Tobi Cowdin, the Rattlers head coach and Brett’s son (Brett’s brother, Bruce, is the assistant coach). “To add it to everything going on out there today with my dad, that makes it very special. It was a great night for us.”

Danny Mitchell Jr. capped a big night as the Rattler designated hitter belted a walkoff grand slam to cap a seven-run seventh inning for the run-rule victory.

“I was just trying to help the team,” said Mitchell, who plays at Arkansas-Little Rock. “It was a big night for the team and an emotional night for coach so we were trying to do what we could.”

Mitchell also hit a grand slam in Friday’s loss, so that thought crept into his mind as he stepped to the plate against Topeka reliever Dalton Laird.

“I can’t say it wasn’t in the back of my head,” Mitchell said. “Was I trying to do that? No, but it happened.”

Mitchell went 3 for 5 with two doubles and seven RBIs.

“He’s seeing the ball well,” Cowdin said. “That’s a good kid. His dad was able to make it in from Arkansas today so that was nice for him.”

The Giants, who won the first two games by a combined score of 27-10, got on the board right away when Jacob Kirmer homered on the first pitch of the game. But Rattlers pitcher Jeremy Kravetz, a Kansas Jayhawk left-hander, recovered from that initial blow to contain the Giants (8-9 MPL).

Kravetz scattered eight hits with three strikeouts and four walks in a seven-inning complete game.

“He was keeping them off-balance with his off-speed pitches and throwing strikes with multiple pitches,” Cowdin said. “They are a great hitting team but he was able to mix up his pitches tonight.”

The Rattlers (5-12 MPL) tied the score in the bottom of the first when Jonathan Valenzuela-Reece, who was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, led off with a single and scored on Mitchell’s double. The Rattlers extended their lead to 5-1 after four innings, were up 7-2 after six when Mitchell hit a two-run double and they scored seven in the seventh for the run-rule win.

Giants starter Paul Wolfram pitched three-plus innings, giving up five runs on six hits.

Topeka 100 010 2 — 4 8 1

Rossville 130 102 7 — 14 13 0

Wolfram, Schwandt (4), Smith (7), Laird (7) and Kirmer. Kravetz and Whitworth, T.Peterson (6). W – Kravetz. L – Wolfram. 2B – Topeka: Eary. Rossville: Mitchell 2. HR – Topeka: Kirmer. Rossville: Mitchell.

Levi MaVorhis Signs With Cardinals

                                             

 Former Rattler and KSU Wildcat Levi MaVorhis  signed  with the St. Louis Cardinals! 

His bio can be read at:  http://www.kstatesports.com/sport/m-basebl/2015/roster/5589c1eee4b09d6fde8f4b75

Rattlers Lose To G. Giants

From the Capital-Journal:

ROSSVILLE — A big offensive inning can be a blessing and a curse for a pitcher. The run support is greatly appreciated, but the time spent in the dugout while his teammates bat around can throw off his rhythm.

The Topeka Golden Giants sent 12 batters to the plate in the fifth inning and scored seven runs. Pitcher Chris McPherson, who had cruised through four innings without allowing a hit, then gave up three runs and three hits to Rossville in the bottom of the inning.

That one tough inning was easily overcome, however, as the Golden Giants rolled to a 13-3, 8-inning run rule victory over the Rattlers in the opener of a three-game Mid-Plains League series Thursday at Joe Campbell Stadium.

“It’s hard to go back out after standing around for 30 minutes,” McPherson said. “I love the run support, though.”

The Giants (7-8 MPL) held a 3-0 lead when they erupted for the seven-run fifth, highlighted by Gunner Halter’s two-run home run.

The Rattlers (4-11) put the first three batters on base in the bottom of the inning with a single, walk and single. Tim Schaareman drove in two runs with a single.

“You have to stay warm,” McPherson said of the long wait between trips to the mound. “I was sitting down for a while and the coach (Chris Graves) came over and yapped at me and told me to get up and start moving again.”

That was all Rossville could manage off McPherson, who allowed four hits with six strikeouts and three walks in seven innings. He also hit four batters in the compact ballpark.

“I really don’t enjoy pitching at the field just because the field is so short,” said McPherson, a Seaman graduate who played the past two years at Allen County Community College but is undecided on his next school. “You just rely on defense and you have to hit your spots.

“My slider and two-seam were good for me tonight.”

The Giants pounded out 16 hits off four Rattler pitchers. Conner Rule had three hits with a solo homer while Bailey Pattin and MJ Farthing also had three-hit games.

Topeka bounced back from Tuesday’s road doubleheader loss at Liberty.

“It was a good start to the series,” McPherson said. “We definitely need to bring the momentum back tomorrow and try to get a sweep.”

GOLDEN GIANTS 13, RATTLERS 3

Topeka 020 170 21x — 13 16 0

Rossville 000 030 00x — 3 4 4

McPherson, Horak (8) and Kirmer. Michalski, Mah (4), Davis (5), Valenzuela-Reece (8) and Whitworth. W – McPherson. L – Michalski. 2B – Topeka: Pattin. HR – Topeka: Halter, Rule.

Rattlers Split DH At Independence Tue

   The Rattlers split their double header at their visit to the Independence Veterans on Tue. night, winning the first game 3-2, but losing the second 6-5

Rattlers Split Double Header On Monday

    The Rattlers split the Monday evening double header with the Independence Veterans at Joe Campbell Stadium. They lost game one 5-3 and won game two 3-0

Summer Events At Library

Events you won't want to miss!

• Ultimate Sports Trivia- please sign up so we know how many to plan for!
• Special Summer Book Discussion- great techno-thriller!
• Senior Citizen Bingo & Sandwiches
• Local History Night--find out all the great things we are doing to promote local history and genealogy!

Photos Of Willard Bridge Progress

Latest photos of the Willard Bridge construction by

George Brown

World Championship Meat Loaf Contest

From the Capital-Journal

Paxico business owners say they are expecting up to 1,500 people Saturday, June 18, at the town’s Meatloaf Festival.

This year, the festival’s eighth, will be the first in which the public will participate in judging of the “World Championship Meatloaf Cook-off Contest.” Eight teams — hailing from Alma, Rossville, Scranton, Topeka, Wamego and Paxico — have registered to compete, according to contest organizer Al Harris, owner of Fowl Territory antique store on Paxico’s Main Street.

Harris said that to the best of his knowledge, no other locale in the world hosts a meatloaf contest, which is why Paxico’s is titled the “world championship.”

For $5, Harris said, festivalgoers can purchase a bracelet that will allow them to taste-test each of the meatloaf contest’s entries. A penny vote placed in the teams’ buckets will determine the champion, he said.

Proceeds from the contest will benefit Paxico’s volunteer fire department, Harris said.

Larry Winkler, owner of Aunt Peg’s Antiques, said the festival will kick off with a parade at 10 a.m. Four food trucks will sell their fare downtown, and two wineries will offer free wine tasting.

The event also will include a flea market, carriage rides, kids’ activities, live music and a pie contest. Military vehicles from Fort Riley will be on display, and Paxico’s five downtown antique shops will be open for business.

Admission is free.

David Gauntt Drafted By Marlins

    Former Rattler Catcher David Gauntt of Washburn University was drafted by the Florida Marlins

Cole Gruber Drafted By A's

    Former Rattler Cole Gruber from the University of Nebraska -- Omaha has been drafted by the Oakland A's.

Rattlers Defeat Sabetha 7-2

      The Rattlers beat the Sabetha Lobos 7-2 on Sat. night.
      The Rattlers will be back  at The Joe Monday night at 5:00 PM for a double header against the visiting  Independence Veterans

Rattlers Lose Friday At Sabetha

    The Rossville Rattlers lost their Friday night game at Sabetha 16-6.

Rattlers Lose 20-18

    The Rossville Rattlers lost 20-18 in a wild baseball game at Sabetha on Thursday evening.