Aidan Han and Loudin Rodriguez combined for six RBI and three runs scored for the Cadets Prime 14u in a 12-7 win over the MVP Terps Metro 14u last night at Greenbriar Park.

The Cadets' bats broke through in the third inning with five runs after being blanked in the first two innings by Terps starting pitcher Jack Gattoni. Han got his team on the board with an RBI single, which was followed by a two-run double from Rodriguez.

In the fourth, Rodriguez again delivered an RBI on his second hit of the night after the bottom of the order loaded the bases. Ben Jones and Quinn Evans then followed with base hits, scoring three more in the inning for the Cadets.

“Hitting has always carried our team so it was just a matter of time before our bats came alive,” Cadets coach Lansing Veeder said. “We struggled a bit this weekend so it was nice to see the boys come back and string some hits together.”

With two on and two outs in the fifth, Han drove a two-run double to left field, scoring Laughton Wingate and Max Barnhart. Wingate reached base and scored all three times he came to plate.

The first six batters for the Cadets all had multiple hits with Jones leading the way with three. The last four batters of the order also produced for the Cadets, as Barnhard, Wingate, Jack Donaldson and Justin Daly combined for seven runs.

“We are a little top heavy but when you see guys at the bottom of the order put together great at-bats, that allow for the guys at the top to do what they do,” Veeder said.

Evans started on the mound for the Cadets and allowed two runs while striking out five over three innings. The right-hander allowed three consecutive hits to start the game, but settled in to retire eight of the next 10 batters.

“Quinn is one of our stronger arms and is one of those guys who I can give the ball to in any situation,” Veeder said.

Trailing 11-2, the Terps rallied in the fourth with four runs off Cadets reliever Ryan Chang. Brady Rife and Garrett Tansing each picked up an RBI while Henry Nitz capped the inning with a two-run single. Nitz and Drayton Canestra went a combined 5-for-7 at the top of the order for the Terps.

Rodriguez would lock down the game for the Cadets, holding the Terps to one run in the final two frames. Gattoni took the loss for the Cadets after allowing five runs on 2.2 innings.   

These two teams will square off again this Sunday afternoon at Nike Park in Great Falls.