Baseball Game Preview: Rattan Rams vs. Caddo Bruins

The Rattan Rams will head out on the road to square off against the Caddo Bruins at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Rattan's pitching crew has only allowed 2.4 runs per game this season, so Caddo's hitters will have their work cut out for them.

Rattan is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Oklahoma's top teams: Wright City, who was ranked 11th at the time (Rattan was ranked fifth). The Rams narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Lumberjax 6-5. The win continues a trend for the Rams in their matchups with the Lumberjax: they've now won eight in a row.

The team relied heavily on Kooper Johnson, who went 4-for-5 with one home run, three runs, and one double. Those four hits gave him a new career-high.

Johnson wasn't the only one making solid contact: Rattan kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.

Meanwhile, Caddo has relied on a stalwart pitchers averaging 3.65 runs allowed per game, but that average took a hit on Saturday. They lost 13-6 to Ada.

Hayden Bush and Bayler Black stepped up to the plate in a big way. Bush scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances, while Black scored a run while going 2-for-3. Kale Brister was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-4.

Rattan's record now sits at 10-2. As for Caddo, their loss dropped their record down to 12-5.

Thursday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Rattan hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .316. However, it's not like Caddo struggles in that department as they've averaged .353. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

Rattan might still be hurting after the 11-3 defeat they got from Caddo in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. Can the Rams avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.