Otto Babe Ruth wins opening game

The Otto Babe Ruth team had their season opener on Saturday in Lander and won in a tight 11-10 game. Will Hatch scored the only run for the Rattlers in the first inning by stealing around the bases after being walked. Matthew Tempany pitched five-plus innings with Hatch at catcher. “Those two were a great combination,” said Coach Janalee Call. Lander scored five in the first inning and Tempany struck out one.
In the second inning, Joe Worthen was the only scorer from both teams. The third inning saw Brikton Wardell scoring after being walked and Hatch getting a base hit and then stealing around to add another run for the Rattlers.
Otto consistently scored for the final three innings with Worthen and Heather Roll scoring in the fourth, Hatch and Rulon Andrew in the fifth and Elijah Rice and Hatch scoring again in the final inning. The Rattlers held Lander scoreless in the second, fourth and fifth innings with Tempany striking out 11 and allowing four hits. In the sixth inning, Worthen took over the mound and the Rattlers infield closed out the game.
“The first game of the season is always good to show what we need to work on. We definitely need to work on base running, pick off throws and throwdowns to stop the base stealing. I was proud of how well the players did. It is always nice to start the season with a win,” said Call.
The Otto Majors and Minors faced off against Greybull in Otto on Tuesday. The Majors lost 7-3. Greybull scored one in the second inning and the Rattlers responded in the third with runs from Brooklyn Winters, Raiden Andrew and Tilly Neves. Greybull had a huge fourth inning that included a grand slam and bumped Greybull to a 7-3 lead and the Rattlers couldn’t fight their way back.
Bret Winters and Nicholas Worthen held the mound for the Rattlers.
The Otto Minors game was a different story, with the Rattlers winning 10-2. Greybull put the first run on the board in the first inning and Otto responded with a single from Gage Tolman, who stole home to score. Tuck Neves, Brigham Winters, Cruz Allen and Ryder Cauffman were walked and stole around to score.
Greybull scored again in the second inning, but the Rattlers continued to steal around the bases, bringing in Davin Buck, Ra. Andrew, Vanessa Winters, Cort Pickinpaugh and Tu. Neves, to end the game. Andrew pitched the game for the Rattlers.
The Babe Ruth team will host Thermopolis Thursday at 6 p.m.