RANTOUL, Ill. – The No. 20 ranked Parkland College Baseball team extended its current winning streak to 10 games with two wins over Quincy JV on Wednesday, March 22nd. The Cobras (18-3) outhit the Hawks 28-4 between the two games at the Rantoul Sports Complex, where Parkland won 12-2 and 21-0. Catcher Charlie Marisca led the Cobras with five RBI on Wednesday, hitting his second home run of the season in game two.
Parkland head coach Anthony Silkwood likes the depth his team has shown so far this season, saying, “It’s been a good week so far. Contributions from every player on the team, and that’s awesome to see as a coach.”
“We are fortunate to play eight conference games this week; no other conference in America gets to do that,” Silkwood thankfully recalled.
Up next, Parkland resumes conference play with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 25th, at No. 3 Heartland Community College. First pitch against the Hawks (14-1) is scheduled for noon on Saturday.
No. 20 Parkland College 12, Quincy University JV 2 (6 innings)
The Cobras trailed the junior varsity Hawks team 2-0 after the top of the 2nd inning, but the team got one back in the bottom half to cut the deficit to one. Parkland took the lead in the bottom of the 4th after Jackson Blemler (2-4, 4 RBI, R, BB) lined a 3-RBI double into center field, and the Cobras led 7-2 going into the 5th. The team extended its lead with a run in the bottom of the 5th before three runs in the bottom of the 6th enacted the mercy rule, and Parkland won 12-2.
Right-hander Richie Snider (2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K) started the game for the Cobras, and freshman Freddie Elftmann (1-0) earned the win after relieving Snider in the 3rd inning, striking out four and allowing just one hit in 2 1/3 innings. Champaign native William O’Gorman pitched the 6th inning, striking out one in the win.
No. 20 Parkland College 21, Quincy JV 0 (5 innings)
The Hawks lined a single into right field in the 2nd inning of game two, but that was the only hit the team managed to muster against a locked-in Cobra pitching staff. Freshman John Cederberg (1-0) picked up the win in his first collegiate start, striking out four batters in two innings of work, and Drew Evans (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 5 K) relieved him in the 3rd. Freshman Louis Stallone finished the game on the mound, striking out two in the 5th.
Offensively, Parkland took a commanding lead in the bottom of the 2nd after Jayden Cummings (1-2, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB) lined a 3-RBI double into left field, Logan Reidelberger (1-2, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB) drove in two runs on a double into center field, and Charlie Marisca (3-3, 5 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB) launched a 3-run home run to put the Cobras in front 8-0. Parkland continued to add to its total in the 3rd and 4th innings, scoring six and seven runs, respectively, and the Cobras cruised to a 10th straight win, 21-0, over the Hawks on Wednesday afternoon.
