Raiders battle Sharks in final game

The Rice Raiders finished out their season with a loss to the Palacios Sharks on Tuesday, April 23, on their home field.

The Raiders knew they were playing for only themselves in their final game and wanted to end the year on a high note.

The Raiders came ready to play and never once backed down from the Sharks. They started the game out scoreless with the Raiders defense playing some of their best baseball.

Jayden Sanford started the game on the mound, and it proved to be the right choice because early on Sanford was frustrating the Sharks offense. Sanford has done nothing but improve all season long and Tuesday was no different.

At the start of the game, through three innings, he had zero hits against him, he only walked two batters, one of which was hit by a pitch, and he struck out two. Sanford was on his way to an excellent game but then the Sharks smelled blood in the water.

The Sharks opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning scoring only on run, but then circled back in the fifth inning to start the feeding frenzy. The Sharks added five more runs in the fifth inning making the score 6-0.

The Raiders offense again struggled to find any luck with their bats. A lot of unfortunate bounces and plays they wish they had back.

The Raiders’ offense did everything they could to try to provide a spark to their dugout and get themselves back into the game. Unfortunately, the Sharks defense stood tall and anytime the Raiders had an opportunity to get on the board the Sharks ripped it away.

As their season came to a close with on final out the Raiders took their time leaving the field. It is always hard when a season ends and there are a lot of emotions around the team and the players.

But there’s something special cooking at Rice Consolidated High School with their spring sports and the Raiders held a business meeting at the end of their last game as opposed to saying goodbye.

The Raiders are going to build off of the progress they made this season and come back next year ready to make a statement.