By: Larry Larson
LOVES PARK, IL — After being down 11-3 after 6 and a half innings, the Rockford Rivets used a 4-run 7th inning to make things close, but fell 12-7 to the Kokomo Jackrabbits on Friday night at Rivets Stadium.
The loss is Rockford’s fourth straight, moving their record to 1-4 on the season. 10 new roster additions, including six newcomers in the starting lineup, gave the Rivets a boost but it ultimately wasn’t enough.
Rivets starter and Winnebago native Jace Warkentien (Jr, Western Illinois) got roughed up in the early goings, surrendering 5 runs in the first two innings.
After Kokomo scored once more in the 4th, Jared Cushing (R-Fr, Xavier) would respond with a 2-RBI single in his Rivets debut to cut the lead to 6-2.
The Jackrabbits’ runs didn’t stop, though, as the team scored at least one run in every inning between the 4th and 8th.
Rockford’s 7th inning rally was highlighted by RBI singles from Dylan Robertson (Fr, Western Iowa Community College), Blake Mozley (So, Missouri State) and Brody Harding (So, Illinois). The hit barrage cut the Kokomo lead to 11-7, but the Rivets couldn’t manufacture runs in the 8th and 9th and took the loss.
Warkentien took the loss after surrendering 8 runs in 6 innings of work. Rockford native Elijah Sanchez (Jr, Northern Illinois) made his Northwoods League debut in the 7th inning, allowing 3 runs.
The Rivets will look to get off the schnide with their newfound depth tomorrow night against Kokomo, with first pitch set for 6:05. Payton Hutchings (Fr, Illinois) will start on the mound for manager JT Scara.
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The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rockfordrivets.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rivets as your favorite team.
