Heading into Sunday’s series finale between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (TRats) and the Quad Cities (River) Bandits, the outcome seemed preordained, except for two things. The Bandits were 6-2 and looking to win their second series after sweeping Peoria the previous weekend, and the TRats (3-5) hoping to salvage a split. The first thing preventing an obvious Quad Cities victory is the very nature of baseball and the second is the small sample size. Basically, anything can happen and the obvious rarely does.

While I don’t obsess over prospect rankings before attending minor league games, I always do some advance scouting-if only to make sure I get pics of the bigger names. As is often the case in early April, MWL teams (Hi-A) don’t stack their rosters with the higher draft picks. However, some of the readier players from the upcoming summer draft will make their way to the Midwest this summer.

Six of the eight players drafted in 2924 playing for QC are pitchers, but none of the guys was taken higher than the 3rd round. It should be noted that K.C drafted two pitchers from the University of Tennessee (CWS Champs). Coincidentally, the highest drafted player on either roster, Blake Burke, was taken with the 34th pick in the ’24 draft out of the University of Tennessee.

As is often the case since the MWL was bumped up to Hi-A in the 2021 season, they now play 6-game series 98.3% of the time, which means that the game one starting pitchers will often face off again in game 6. Such was the case Sunday afternoon.

Because the local pack of autograph collectors were focusing on the visiting TRats, I headed over to the left field line where the Bandits starting pitcher, Logan Martin was doing his pregame thing. As a fan and freelance writer, I know to respect starting pitcher protocol, but since I was the only one not chasing signatures, I chatted up the University of Kentucky Wildcat. He was very forthcoming and we discussed his having to pitch against the same team in the same series. He talked about pitch selection and specific approach-something that has become very rare in the past few years. While we didn’t discuss it, I noted in my pregame research that he and his opponent were oddly connected and not just because both pitched collegiately in the SEC. Martin was taken in the 12th round of the 2023 draft with the 349th overall pick, and Tyson Hardin was selected in the 12th round of the ’24 draft with the 365th pick. As a matter of development, I’m going to track both players’ careers as neither is a high priority pick.

Unfortunately, the scene on the other side of the field prevented me from talking with any of the Rattlers. Generally speaking, autograph collectors were raised by wolves and lack common courtesy-most grunt and shove their wares in front of the players with little concern for others. For the most part when I’m operating from the stands, I don’t try and converse with players and coaches. I did get some decent pictures though.

Armed with a mini scouting report, I settled into my seat behind home and enjoyed a five inning pitchers’ duel. For his part, Martin pitched to his strengths, which included a 92-96 mph fastball with movement. He no-hit the TRats through the first 4 1/3 innings, striking out five in a row at one point.

In his MWL debut earlier in the week, Tyson Hardin no-hit the Bandits over 5 innings, earning the victory in a 4-0 game. While Quad Cities ended his streak three batters into the game, he only allowed three more singles in four shutout innings. At no time was he pitching under stress. One of the runners was caught stealing and another was erased on a 6-4-3 doubleplay.

Editor’s note: I recently read an opinion decrying the overuse of terms like “awesome”. One of the members of the three-generations sitting behind me, overused and abused the term “high cheese” to the point that 83 mph curveballs and 96mph fastballs were afforded the same aclaim.

Martin and Hardin may lack the pedigree of some of their teammates, but both pitched more than effectively in their abbreviated outings. After surrendering a leadoff single and walk in the top of the 6th inning, Martin gave way to Tommy Molsky, who immediately induced a doubleplay, but walked the next batter, Burke and gave up a run-scoring single to 19-year-old, shortstop, Juan Baez.

Wisconsin reliever, Jeferson Figueroa blanked the Bandits for two innings. However, the next reliever, Zach Peek, didn’t fare as well in his one inning. With one out in the bottom of the 7th, right fielder, Trevor Werner laced a triple to left center and scored on a (crushed) double by DH Callan Moss. Spoil alert, that was all the scoring they’d do.

Wisconsin responded with four runs in the top of the 8th on a two-run double from Milwaukee’s #23 rated prospect, Jadher Areinamo, and a run scoring single by Burke who then surprised 1,433 fans by stealing second and later scoring on an Eduardo Garcia double.

Were it not for Canyon Brown’s quick release and alertness, Wisconsin surely would have scored more runs. He cut down three TRats on the bases including Yhoswar Garcia.

Staked to a 5-1 lead, Yerlin Rodriguez (3 K’s and one single) and Aidan Maldonado (single and a strikeout) blanked Quad City and preserved the win for Peek (1-0). Despite losing 5-1 and splitting the series, I didn’t get the impression that anyone was that disappointed. The weather was absolutely beautiful and we saw a very competitive game with enough action and strikeouts (if that’s your thing). Personally, it was worth the wait. On the way out of the park and down the steps to the street, the same co-owner thanked all of us for attending the game.

Suffice to say, I’m already planning my next adventure. Hopefully, I’ll do a better job of posting. Thanks for visiting!