As the Kokomo Jackrabbits complete their first homestand of the 2024 campaign, the Jackrabbits begin the summer 0-2, in search of their first win. In the home opener on Monday, Kokomo fell 4-3 in a 12 inning duel against the Lakeshore Chinooks on Memorial Day. 

The Jackrabbits didn’t record their first run until the ninth inning on Monday, but fought back until the 12th. The Chinooks scored first in the third, leading 1-0 until Kokomo tied the game in the ninth. With a tied score of 1-1 heading into extras, the Jackrabbits had the home crowd behind them entering the 10th. Soon after both teams added one more run a piece in the 11th to make it 2-2, Lakeshore finally took a two-run lead in the 12th. 

A Prince Deboskie sacrifice fly, and a Sam Hunt RBI single gave Lakeshore a 4-2 lead in the 12th. Kokomo’s efforts weren’t enough late, beginning their season 0-1. 

On the following day, Kokomo’s offense was a much different story. Tuesday’s game combined for 25 total runs, with the Jackrabbits ultimately falling 15-10. Early on though, Kokomo jumped on Lakeshore’s defense, taking a 7-0 lead after two innings. 

A Jack Dupuis two-run inside the park home run, and a Derek Bermudez two-run home run to left gave Kokomo all the momentum early. Kokomo’s starter Tate Mullens set the tone early defensively, going three innings of no-hit ball. 

But, in the fourth inning, Lakeshore’s offense found its groove. Kokomo’s 7-0 lead quickly vanished as Lakeshore knocked in six runs. Tuesday was a back and forth effort between both squads, with both bullpens using five different arms. 

After Kokomo took a 9-6 lead after six innings, Lakeshore’s offense refused to quit. The Chinooks were determined to make it back to Wisconsin with a 2-0 record. Lakeshore recorded 5 hits in the seventh, scoring five runs and ultimately regaining a 11-9 lead. From then on, Lakeshore defended their lead, and scored four more insurance runs in the ninth.

“We’re doing really good things, if we keep doing these things we’re going to end up on the winning side more than the losing side,” Jackrabbits manager Johnston Hobbs said. “You’ve got to manage failure in baseball so having this happen to us in games where they’ve come back and we’ve come back only makes us better.”

Both squads totaled 13 hits, and both scored in double digits. Both games on Monday and Tuesday took over four hours of game-time, marking a pair of well-deserved victories for the Chinooks. 

The Jackrabbits will embark on a four-game road trip to Traverse City, MI, and Royal Oak, MI. They will play a pair of two-game series against the Traverse City Pit Spitters and the Royal Oak Leprechauns, beginning on Wednesday, May 29th.