Verrado Rallies Late to Edge Tolleson Union 2-1
The Verrado Vipers kicked off their season in dramatic fashion, battling back late to snag a hard-earned 2-1 win over Tolleson Union on the road. It wasn’t pretty early on, but when it mattered most, the Vipers came through.
Tolleson got on the board first in the second inning, putting Verrado in an early hole. For most of the game, the Vipers just couldn’t get much going at the plate, struggling to string hits together. But as any baseball fan knows, it’s not how you start—it’s how you finish. And Verrado finished strong.
In the sixth, Ethan Williams (Sr) and Bode Acton (Sr) sparked the rally, with Acton delivering the game-tying RBI. With momentum finally on their side, the Vipers didn’t waste their shot in the seventh. Williams came up clutch again, notching his second hit of the night and crossing the plate for the go-ahead run. From there, Verrado’s defense locked it down to secure the win.
Acton had himself a night, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Williams finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Braden Marchese (Sr) and Ronal Urquiola (Sr) chipped in with key knocks to keep the offense alive.
On the mound, the Vipers were lights out. Senior Nolan Raissle got the start and set the tone with two solid innings, striking out four while allowing just two hits. Then Braxton Bjur (Sr) took over and flat-out dominated, punching out nine batters over five innings while giving up just one run. His command was sharp, and he had Tolleson hitters guessing all night.
Defensively, Verrado was steady, committing just one error and making the plays when they had to. Zach Mermis (Jr) held it down at first base with 12 putouts.
With this gritty win, the Vipers start their season on the right foot and will look to keep rolling in their next matchup. Baseball season is officially here, and if this game is any indication, Verrado is ready to compete
