Rogues breeze by CCL Showcase for series sweep

Published 11:22 pm Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Medford Rogues third baseman Jack Meissner makes a play for an out during the second inning against Seattle during Thursday's season opener at Harry & David Field.

For the second straight night, the Medford Rogues continued to feast on whatever CCL Showcase pitchers offered up in another runaway victory Wednesday at Harry & David Field.

Medford repeated Tuesday’s effort by collecting 16 hits yet again versus the California Collegiate League squad, cruising to a 21-2 triumph one night after winning 18-6.

On Tuesday, Cody Ferrante hit a fourth-inning grand slam to go with an RBI double in the third inning to power Medford.

Every starter collected at least one hit Wednesday, with Cody Nitowitz wasting no time in picking up where he left off last summer in his season debut for the Rogues by going 3-for-5 with three runs and four RBIs. Nitowitz had a two-run single in the fifth inning and a two-run double in the sixth.

Last summer, Nitowitz broke franchise records for runs scored (73) and walks (42) in 44 games played. The outfielder batted .368 with 41 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.

Medford sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning Wednesday night, with nine of them eventually scoring to take away any doubt of the outcome.

Jack Meissner hit a double to open the inning for the Rogues and they never looked back, with Ferrante plating the first runs with a two-run double before consecutive RBI singles by Frankie Rutigliano and Matt Terzola. Aiden Horsley and Meissner added RBI efforts before Jordan Hockett connected for an RBI double in the marathon frame.

In two games against CCL Showcase, Meissner has combined to go 8-for-11 with six runs and five RBIs, while Ferrante is 4-for-8 with two runs and seven RBIs and Hockett is 6-for-8 with four runs and five RBIs.

Liam Barrett went 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs and Horsley scored three times with two RBIs to help spur Medford’s cause in Game 2 of the three-game series.

The Rogues (8-4) wrapped up a series sweep Thursday night with a 10-4 triumph over CCL Showcase, scoring four times in each of the second and third innings to create another early advantage.

Batting in the leadoff spot, Medford’s Rutigliano went 4-for-5 with two runs and a season-high five RBIs after two-run singles in the second and third innings and an RBI double in the seventh.

Nitowitz was 2-for-2 with three RBIs after his own two-run single in the second and RBI single in the third, while Horsley went 2-for-4 with one run as the only other Rogues player with multiple hits.

Medford was set to open another three-game homestand Friday against AE Express. Saturday and Sunday games each start at 6:35 p.m. at Harry & David Field.

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