Latest News
By: Max Gun
Battle Creek, Mich— The Battle Creek Bombers find themselves back in the win column after winning game one of a doubleheader, 1-0, against the Waterloo Bucks.
The game was an anticipated pitchers dual with the aces toeing the slab for each team, and it lived up the hype. Alex Hermling (Louisiana-Monroe) didn’t allow a run in a seven-inning complete game, striking out seven and allowing just two hits. It was Hermling’s third straight complete game, shaving his ERA to an impressive 0.39 through four starts.
The only trouble Hermling encountered all day was in the second and fifth innings, when there was a runner on third base with less than two out. In the second, Mark Hernandez (Long Island) walked with one out, and advanced to third base on a poor pickoff throw from Hermling that went for an error. Hermling then buckled down to get Matthew Stemper (Minnesota) to ground out to third base, holding Hernandez at third. Hermling then struck out Joseph Shepherd (Murray State College).
In the fifth inning, Stemper led off with a single, and advanced to third base on a error by the catcher Spencer Hemphill (Louisiana-Monroe), who was trying to pick him off first. Hermling them promply struck out Shepherd, Luke Stratman (Lamar Community College) and got Mikal Hill (Winston-Salem St.) to ground out.
Meanwhile, Preston Church (Western Illinois) didn’t allow a Bomber to reach base until the fifth inning when Tyler Walsh (Belmont) led off with a double. Walsh advanced to third base on an infield single by Spencer Hemphill (Louisiana-Monroe). With still nobody out, Walsh was able to score as Lin Li (National Taiwan Sports University) hit into a double play. That completed the scoring in game one. Church takes his first loss of the season in tough luck fashion, giving him a 2-1 record through four starts.
The win gives Battle Creek a 8-10 record on the year, while the Waterloo Bucks fall to 11-8.
Game two of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at approximately 6:05 p.m. EST.
Check back to battlecreekbombers.com for more updates.
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)
