By Max Gun, Radio Broadcaster
Kenosha, WIs.– The Battle Creek Bombers lost for the third time in as many nights to the Kenosha Kingfish, falling 6-2.
The Kingfish started the scoring in the second inning, Jeremy Vazquez (Florida) led off with a single, and he eventually scored on a two-out RBI single by Mitch Gasboro (Eastern Illinois), to give Kenosha a 1-0 lead.
Kenosha’s biggest inning was the fourth, when they tagged Griffin Weir (Stanford) for three runs. Vazquez led off with a walk, and Jason Scholl (Eastern Illinois) singled to move Vazquez to third base. With Gasboro hitting, Weir uncorked a wild pitch to allow Vazquez to score and make it 2-0 Kingfish. Gasboro eventually walked. Then with two out, Zack Weigel (Seaton Hall) hit a fly ball to left field. Bombers left fielder Brennon Lund (BYU) came running towards the fould line to make the catch, and it appeared he came down with it, but the ball popped out of his glove for an error. Scholl and Gasboro scored to extend Kenosha’s lead to 4-0.
The Kingfish scored two more runs in the sixth inning, all with two outs. John Brodner (Wright St) walked and Weigel singled to put runners at first and second. Then Brody Westmoreland (San Diego St) hit a ground ball to Bombers shortstop Lin Li (Taiwan), but he let it slide under his glove for an error allowing Brodner to score the fifth run of the night for Kenosha. Eric Filia (UCLA) singled home Weigel to make it 6-0 Kingfish.
Battle Creek had another ninth inning rally for the second consecutive day, but again, it wasn’t enough. Nico Pacheco (Cal St Fullerton) hit a two-run single off of J.D. Neilsen (Illinois) to score pinch runner Edgar Sanchez (Prarie View A&M) and Gary Russo (Miami Ohio).
Starter PJ Schuster (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville) was the story for the Kingfish. He picked up the win (5-3), after tossing 7 scoreless innings. He allowed just 4 hits, 1 walk and struck out 6 Bombers.
Weir (0-3) took the loss for Battle Creek. He lasted 5 and two-thirds innings, allowing 4 hits, 5 runs (2 earned runs). Free passes plagued Weir for the second consecutive start, as he walked 5 Kingfish tonight after walking 4 in his previous start.
The Bombers, 19-37, look to salvage the final game of this four-game series with the first-place Kingfish on Sunday. First pitch is at 5:05 p.m. Central Time, 6:05 p.m. Eastern Time.
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)