by Cleveland, Ohio – For the first time since 2018, the Rhodes Rams are kings of the Senate League, thanks to a 7-3 win over John Marshall at Progressive Field in Cleveland Wednesday afternoon.
The two teams have had prior history against each other in the championship game. Rhodes won the 2018 matchup between the two teams, 9-5, and John Marshall won the 2019 matchup at League Park, 11-8.
Rhodes got things started with one out in the bottom of the first. Frankie Galan reached base due to a fielders’ choice. Juan Toribio followed up with an RBI double to left field to plate Galan and put the Rams ahead, 1-0. After a groundout for out #2, Cesar Rios popped out to the first base side. The ball was lost in the sun, and Toribio scored to make the score 2-0.
Rios stole second base, and eventually scored on an RBI single from James Joseph, increasing the Rams lead to 3-0.
Kayden Herold got the first hit of the game for the Lawyers in the top of the third inning. Daniel Roman brought him home with an RBI single to cut the Ram lead to 3-1. Leonardo Ellington followed with an RBI double to left to plate Roman for the Lawyers’ second run.
Cesar Rios started a two-out rally for the Rams in the home half of the third with a single. He stole second base, and James Joseph brung him in with an RBI single up the middle.
John Marshall got runners on first and second in the top of the fourth inning. However, Frankie Galan got out of the jam with a strikeout of Mikal Westbrook and a lineout to second. Ruiz then stepped on second for the double play to end the inning.
Juan Toribio got an RBI grounder to increase the Ram lead to 5-2 after Galan and Miguel Peeper reached base. Joynangel Rivera followed with an RBI single to score Galan, making the score 6-2.
The Rams plated another run in the sixth when Juan Toribio reached on an error by the third baseman. He scored on awild pitch.
Josian Cruz led off the seventh with a single. He later scored on an RBI single from Kayden Harold, cutting the Lawyer deficit to 7-3. But that was all the Lawyers would get, as Galan got a strikeout and flyout to end the game.
Rhodes finishes their season at 15-6. Senior pitcher and Lorain Community College commit Frankie Galan pitched a complete game, allowing just five hits and striking out nine batters. He also reached base twice and scored twice. Senior infielder James Joseph went 2-4 with a pair of RBI singles. Sophomore infielder Cesar Rios also went 2-4 with a pair of singles and runs scored.
John Marshall finishes their season at 12-11. Junior infielder Kayden Harold went 2-3 with a pair of singles and an RBI.
Extended highlights here:
John Marshall Lawyers vs. Rhodes Rams (Senate City Championship) (Baseball) (05/31/2023) – YouTube
