The Lakeshore push their win streak to 3, winning 4-2 against the La Crosse Loggers on Thursday Night

The Lakeshore Chinooks jumped on the Loggers early as batting, pitching and fielding all came together tonight. The cold weather has been affecting many teams in the Northwoods League. Chinooks manager Eddy Morgan knew the ball would have trouble traveling with the crisp weather we have had at Kapco Park. The Chinooks had 9 hits on the night bringing home a 4-2 victory.

Travis Enger (St. Cloud State) started off the 3^rd inning with a high fly shot to the right field corner resulting in a leadoff triple. With one out, last night’s hero Chris Manning (Valparaiso) hit a bullet to Loggers second baseman who could not handle the grounder resulting in Manning being safe at first base and the first run of the ballgame to cross the plate. After two Chinooks reached making the bases loaded, Jerrick Suiter (TCU) launched a sacrifice fly as Manning tagged up giving the Chinooks their second run of the game. Directly after, Ryan Krill (Michigan State) hit a line shot to the outfield capping a three run 3^rd inning and a 3-0 lead.

The top of the 6^th inning gave Kyle Bouman and the Chinooks some trouble. A leadoff double, followed by a walk put the 29 scoreless innings for Chinooks opponents in jeopardy. With runner on the corners and one out, Loggers batter smacked a grounder to third base. Brant Valach (Eastern Illinois) fielded the grounder and fired a strike of his own to throw the runner out at home, keep the scoreless streak alive and more importantly the 3-0 lead.

After stranding Valach on second in the 5^th, Mikole Pierce (UW-Whitewater) led off the 6^th with a double to right field. Enger came up to the plate hoping to advance Polen to third with a sacrifice bunt, but ended up bringing in the fourth run of the game and landed on first base with a wide throw by Loggers fielder. The Chinooks added to their lead making it 4-0 after 6 innings of play.

The Loggers took advantage of the pitching change in the top of the 7^th. After hitting a batter and a walk put runners on first and second, Nadratowski of the Loggers brought in their first run of the game ending the Chinooks 30 scoreless inning streak. The Loggers did not stop, as a sacrifice fly landed the second run of the inning chopping the Chinooks lead in half with a score of 4-2 after 7 innings of play.

The Chinooks did not let the 7^th inning bring them down as they finished off the Loggers in the final two innings of play to secure their third victory in a row.

Starter Kyle Bouman (Jefferson College) had yet another solid outing for his second start of the season after an 8 inning no hit outing last Friday at Kapco Park. Bouman started right where he left off going six strong innings allowing two hits and four strike outs.

Chinooks catcher Travis Enger commented on his outing tonight at Kapco Park, “It felt good to start the game out with a triple.” Enger set the pace tonight as the Chinooks won 4-2. The catcher contributed a large amount of the Chinooks three game winning streak to the strong pitching. “If the pitching continues to give us a chance to win the ball game we should be in good shape.” Enger had a triple and a sacrifice bunt on Thursday night against the Loggers.

The Chinooks (4-4) take on the Loggers once again Friday at 7:05 PM at Kapco Park. Fans in attendance will receive a Forrest Chadwick wall decal and Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss Friday Fish Fry will be offered to fans for a great price of $8.50! Come get hooked with the Chinooks as they wrap up a four game home stand.