REX Baseball had their home opener today at Bob Warn Field against the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. The REX looked to break their three-game losing streak while the Pistol Shrimp were off to a 1-2 start. This was the first time the REX had played a baseball game at Bob Warn Field since August of 2019.
The REX started off hot as designated hitter Kody Putnam hit an RBI single that scored center fielder Alec Atkinson. New first baseman, Rob Weissheier, started off his career with the REX with a bang as he hit an RBI double in his first at bat. The REX led 2-0 after the first inning. In the second inning, catcher Canton Terry hit a double and was knocked in on a single by Atkinson.
The REX kept it rolling in the third. Weissheier scored on a single by shortstop Sean Becker. Third baseman Clay Wisner followed that up with a single that scored right fielder Jack Leverenz. Terry hit a single that scored Becker and left fielder Alec Brunson. The REX led 7-0 after three innings. The good guys did not slow down as they crossed home plate three more times the next inning. These runs included a Becker single that scored Leverenz, a sacrifice fly by Wisner that scored Brunson, and Becker scored on a single by Terry. In the bottom of the fifth, Atkinson scored on an RBI ground out by Putnam. After five innings, the REX led 11-0.
The Pistol Shrimp were finally able to get a run on the board to bring the score to 11-1 in the sixth. Wabash Valley’s Own really poured it on in the bottom of the sixth. Brunson scored on an RBI ground out by Terry, Becker scored on an Atkinson walk, and Putnam hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Wisner to cross home plate. Weissheier continued his strong debut with a two RBI double that scored second baseman Will Hayes and Atkinson. The final score of the night would come on a one bagger by Leverenz that scored Weissheier. The hometown team went into the top of the seventh with a 17-1 lead. The REX shutdown the Pistol Shrimp’s bats one more time in order to seal the Mercy Rule win. Starting pitcher Alex Reinoehl was awarded the MVP of the game by Assistant Coach Jacob Harden. Reinhoehl pitched four innings and had six strikeouts while only allowing three hits.
The REX play again on Tuesday, June 1, at 7:05 PM EST against the Lafayette Aviators at the New Loeb Stadium in Lafayette, IN.
GO REX!