Purcellville Cannons vs. Culpeper Cavaliers – 7/24/2023 – By: Lauren Fulton
Today was a very special day at Fireman’s Field. Today we recognized Ryne Guida, (#29), and his many accomplishments and accolades over the past 1.5 years as a Cannon. Guida has since risen to be the Cannon’s all-time hit leader, MVP of the 2022 and possibly the 2023 season. Guida also currently holds a batting average of .451, which is by far the highest on the team. It’s safe to say, no one deserves this honor more, and so Guida will become the first Purcellville Cannon ever recognized to have his number retired, after today’s ceremony. Not only were the boys able to recognize their fellow teammates, but they also walked away with a win over Culpeper, with the final score being 8-3! We were so happy to see so many of y’all in the stands for what could be the last home game of the 2023 season, and the boys put on quite the show!
Our pitching staff for the evening consisted of just two pitchers, who absolutely came in and “got the job done” as efficiently as possible. Our starting pitcher for the evening was Sota Inden, (SO; Sussex County Community College), who pitched for 6.1 innings, giving up 7 hits, 1 walk, and just 2 earned runs. Inden’s energy was electric as he took charge on the mound, and truly capitalized on his opportunity for the majority of the game. Our second and final pitcher for the evening was Will “Poopy” Ricketts, (JR; Frostburg State University), who pitched for the remaining 2.2 innings, giving up 2 hits, no walks, and just 1 more earned run. Both pitchers complimented each other’s work ethic very well during tonight’s game, which greatly helped the Cannon’s offense handle the rest of the work by scoring another 8 runs.
The Cannon’s offense had yet another high-scoring night, with players coming through up and down the lineup! Ryne Guida, (SR; Florida International University), went 3 for 4 on his special night, scoring 3 RBIs, and giving the fans exactly what they came to see. Guida’s leadership by performance will always be remembered throughout Cannon’s history, as he goes down as the last person to ever wear #29. Additionally, Brayden Caskey, (JR; Arkansas State University), Jackson Micheels, (JR; University of Purdue Fort Wayne), Jose Torres, (SR; University of Louisiana Lafayette), and Justin Acal, (SR; University of Pittsburgh), all went 2 for 5, showing the fans the kind of damage the Cannons offense is capable of. The Cannons had a grand total of 12 hits on the evening and managed to score 8 total runs against the Cavaliers. Seeing as how Culpeper was ranked a bit higher than the Cannons prior to this game, this win was greatly needed for the Cannons.
The defense for the evening began with Jose Torres behind the plate as our catcher, Ryan Guida at first base, Brayden Caskey at second, Justin Acal at shortstop, and Keegan Knuston, (SO; San Jacinto College North), at third base. Our outfielders for the evening began with Chayce Bryant, (SR; Southeastern University) in left field, Mikey Brinton, (JR; University of Arkansas Fort Smith), in center field, and Bear Horowicz, (SO; Samford University), in right field. The defense only allowed 2 errors on the night, playing cleanly and efficiently as each guy got the job done in order to support the pitching staff!
Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s sad to admit it, but today was my official last night working in person for the 2023 Cannons baseball team. It was truly an honor to be able to report on each game for the boys and meet a bunch of you in the process. I can safely say that you all, as Cannon fans are truly the best in the league. Even though this very well may have been our last home game this season, the boys aren’t finished yet! They travel to Winchester tomorrow to finish the ending to a doubleheader played a few weeks ago. The game will begin at 4:00 pm and will be roughly 4 innings long. Feel free to follow the boys along via our social media channels, as they finish off the regular season, and head into playoffs!