By Max Gun, Radio Broadcaster

Battle Creek, Mich.–The Battle Creek Bombers had to settle for a series split against the La Crosse Loggers, losing 7-1.

"It’s tough when you don’t bring your energy from pitch one,” said Bombers manager Rob Robinson. “It just felt like overall everyone just checked out today, and when you’re grinding it out on a daily basis you’ve gotta bring that energy, and it obviously showed.”

The Loggers scored in the very first inning and never looked back. Mason McCoy (Illinois Central) led off the game with a double and eventually scored on a Alex Merritt (North Florida) single to make the game 1-0.

Then in the second inning, La Crosse tacked on two more runs, Ronnie Gideon (Texas A&M) led off with a walk, and then Will Savage (Columbia) doubled to put runners at second and third base with nobody out. Denz’l Chapmen (San Diego State), then hit into a fielders choice scoring Gideon, making the score 2-0. Jordan Zimmerman (Mesa Community College) followed by hitting into a fielders choice, which scored Savage to make the score 3-0 Loggers and the game stayed that way until the fourth inning.

Save led off the fourth with a single, and then and then Chapman reached on an error by the shortstop Michael Sanderson (Cal Poly Slo) to put runners at first and second. After a double steal to move the runners to second and third, McCoy singled them both home to make it a 5-0 lead for La Crosse.

Battle Creek got their only run of the game in the fifth inning when Ryan Budnick (Santa Clara) hit a sacrifice fly to score Christian Helsel (Penn State). That made the Loggers’ lead 5-1.

In the eigth inning, Riley Adams (San Diego) reached on a single, and came around to score on a throwing error from Bombers third baseman Matt Simmons (Gardner-Webb). The Bombers committed two more errors tonight, both of them proving costly as they led to two unearned runs. Later in the inning, McCoy hit a sacrifice fly to score Gideon.

Jordan Knutson (Missouri State) started on the mound for Battle Creek making his season debut. He hadn’t pitched since June 7, and it showed, as he wasn’t his usual sharp self. Knuston lasted just four innings, allowing seven hits, five runs (four earned) and one walk. He also hit a batter and struck out five.

“It was Knuston’s first start,” said Robinson. “He got it out of the way, I’ve seen him pitch much better, but with a couple of errors behind him and everything else that goes into play, it’s just not gonna work.”

Loggers starting pitcher Kevin Flemer (Oregon State) was nearly unhittable. Using his straight-over-the-top motion, he confused Bombers hitters all night. He pitched eight innings and allowed just two hits. His one run was unearned.

The Bombers will take on the Wisconsin Woodchucks on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Layne Bruner (Washington State) is scheduled to start for Battle Creek.

 

The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com.

(Story photo courtesy of Battle Creek Photography and Design – Levi Green).