RANTOUL, Ill. – The Parkland College Baseball team won two games over Lake Land College on Sunday, February 26th, as the Cobras (5-1) defeated the Lakers 10-2 and 10-1 at the Rantoul Sports Complex. Pitchers Carter Monke and Tresdon Rybarczyk picked up their first wins on Sunday as the Parkland offense combined for 27 hits over the two games.
“The team came ready to play,” head coach Anthony Silkwood said after the games. “Early in the season, it’s a challenge to stay locked in when you’re not in the lineup, but every day felt like an opening day this weekend, and this team was ready to go because they’ve been great teammates.”
Up next, the Cobras travel to Marion, Illinois, on Friday, March 3rd, for a game against No. 20 Kankakee Community College. First pitch against the Cavaliers (0-0) is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
Game 1: Parkland College 10, Lake Land College 2
Parkland took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st on a Logan Reidelberger (3-3, 2 RBI, BB) single, and the Cobras extended their lead in the 2nd inning as Luke Parmentier (1-2, 2 RBI) drove in two and right fielder Jake Vitale (2-4, RBI, R) lined an RBI single into right field, making the score 4-0. Lake Land got two runs back in the top of the 5th inning, trimming the Parkland lead to 7-2, but the Cobras quickly regained a seven-run lead, and Jaden Lamothe (1-2, RBI) drove in Ryan Snell (1-4, 2 R, SB) in the bottom of the 6th and Parkland won game one, 10-2 in six innings.
Sophomore Carter Monke (4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 13 K) faced 23 batters in his first start, striking out 13 in his debut. Second basemen Jackson Blemler (3-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB, BB) gave opposing pitchers fits, and Tylor Phommachanhom (2-3, 2 R, SB) scored twice in the win.
Game 4: Parkland College 10, Lake Land College 1
The Cobras fell behind in the top of the first inning, but freshman Ryan Snell (2-3, 2 RBI, R, BB) gave Parkland the lead in the bottom half on a 2-RBI single, scoring Jake Vitale (1-3, 2 R, BB, SB) and catcher Tyler Herron (2-3, 2 R, BB, SB). The Cobras scored three runs in the 2nd and five in the 3rd, taking a commanding 10-1 lead, and Parkland cruised to a series sweep.
Tresdon Rybarczyk (4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 K) allowed just three hits and one run over four innings in the sophomore’s second start this season. Freshman Chase Becker (2-3, 4 RBI, BB) hit a 3-RBI double in the bottom of the 3rd to cap a 10-0 scoring run, and Jackson Blemler (1-3, RBI, 2 R, BB, SB) scored for the sixth straight time this season.
