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Published On: August 8th, 2012

The mid-week matchup between the Lakeshore Chinooks and the Madison Mallards proved to be an extra inning thriller for those fans willing to deal with the cold and rain.  Just as fans were packing up their umbrellas, Forrest Chadwick (Southern Maine) hit a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to put the Chinooks on the board for the first time and tie up the game. The Chinooks earned the victory in the extra inning battle against the Mallards 5-4.

“Amazing! Interesting!  Exciting!” described tonight’s game by Head Coach John Vodenlich.  “I think it’s one of those games that if you left in the sixth or seventh inning, you wished you hadn’t.  It’s one of those special games.  I don’t think I’ve see too many more unique games than this for sure.”

Chadwick played spoiler to the Mallards complete game of work with 1 crack of the bat after the Mallards put together single-run innings on 4 occasions throughout the game.  A spark rally in the bottom of the ninth by the Chinooks loaded the bases for Chadwick, who has become most productive hitter for the Chinooks in the second half of the season.

The ninth inning rally started with the Mallards second baseman and right fielder trading positions without their coaches knowing with the mindset of a sure victory.  Pitcher Rex Morrow (Madison College) led off the inning by hitting a single in his first at bat in a Chinooks uniform as a pinch hitter.  Luke Maldonado (Madison College) singled with Morrow reaching second on a routine play for a second baseman…but the usual second baseman was playing right field.  After a furious rant by Mallards coach Greg Labbe put his players back in their correct positions, Charlie Markson (Notre Dame) added another single to load the bases for Chadwick to tie up the game.

The winning run came on a sac fly by Markson that brought home Morrow.  John Hamilton took the loss for the Mallards while Tyler Sparger (Indian Hills) received the win after pitching 4 innings of relief, including the extra innings.

“We have a never quit attitude!  We had one of our pitchers pinch hit so that gave us a spark after he got that single and we just got things rolling from there,” commented Chadwick.  “We know we’re not going to make the playoffs, but we’re still making a push and playing the best we can.”

 

Tonight’s game featured 2 unsigned Toronto Blue Jays’ draft picks on the mound as the Chinooks.  Cody Glenn (LSU), who was drafted in the 15th round in 2011, went 5+ innings while giving up 3 runs on 4 hits.  Kurt Giller, who was drafted in the 21st round in 2009, started on the mound for the Mallards with a 6 inning, 2 hit and no run performance. 

The scoring started in the first with Tyler Marincov starting off the game with a ground ball single to right.  After stealing second during a 12 pitch at bat, by Derek Fisher, Fisher hit a broken bat RBI ground out to first that brought Marincov home.

Those pesky ducks added additional runs in the fifth and sixth innings with Jack Livingston scoring in the fifth on an error by Cody Yount (VCU).  The sixth inning looked to be Lakeshore’s demise as Glenn was chased after starting off the inning by giving up a double, single and a walk.  He was replaced on the mound by Evin Einhardt (Wabash Valley) who allowed 1 of his inherited runners to score, but stranded the rest on the corners.  Einhardt gave up an additional run in the eighth when he walked the lead-off batter and allowed him to score on an RBI slicing double to left field by Jack Livingston.

The rest is history as the Chinooks put on a late game show that will likely never be forgotten by those players involved.

The Chinooks play their final home game of the season tomorrow night at Kapco Park against the Madison Mallards.  Fans will enjoy an abundance of giveaways and prizes as the Chinooks celebrate “Fan Appreciation Night” and thank the great fans for a great season!  First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm.