Meqon, WI – The Lakeshore Chinooks continued the celebration of their 2014 Northwoods League Championship on Saturday, with fans receiving a championship-themed bobblehead of mascot Gill. The team took on the Green Bay Bullfrogs in the first contest of a four-game home stand, but they fell short, losing by a score of 12-7.

Justin Langley (UW-Milwaukee) was the second starter for the Chinooks from his school in as many days. However, his outing was short after a tough first inning in which he gave up four runs. After throwing 43 pitches in the inning, Langley was forced to be removed from the game due to Northwoods League pitch count rules.

Adam Heidenfelder (Hofstra) came on in long relief for the Chinooks. In the third, he gave up four runs, though only one was earned after numerous miscues from the defense. While he may not have had his best outing, Heidenfelder still did a nice job of providing innings for his team after Langely's short outing, ultimately throwing five innings and giving up five runs (two earned). 

The Chinooks got on the board in the bottom of the second, when Doug Kraeger (Richmond) singled, advanced to third on a Jake Romano (Miami-Ohio) double and scored on a David Leiderman (Hofstra) groundout. The team plated another run on an RBI groundout in the fourth, this time when Kyle Wood (Purdue) drove in Kraeger.

A big seventh inning put the Chinooks back within striking distance. Down 9-2 at that point, a Rich Rodriguez (Cincinnati) double drove home Wood. The team added to that total when a bunt single from Drake Parker (Vanderbilt) drove home Aaron Rzucidlo (Georgia). Lucas Raley (Lake Erie College) then notched an RBI single, and Sterling Koerner (Florida Gulf Coast) reached on an error, allowing Parker to come around to score to make the score 9-6 at the end of the frame.

Just arriving in town for his first game, Kody Hessemer (Baylor) was quickly thrown in the action as the Chinooks third reliever. He did his job, though, firing two scoreless innings while striking out three. Jake Tuttle (UW-Milwaukee) finished things off for the Chinooks, allowing three runs in the ninth in his second appearance of the year to make the score 12-6. 

The Chinooks tried to rally in the ninth, scoring a run when a single by Raley drove in Rodriguez for the seventh run of the game. Ultimately, though, the comeback attempt came up short. 

Defense was the biggest problem for the Chinooks in this one. They wound up making six errors, leading to four unearned runs. Not only that, but shortstop Greg Deichmann (Louisiana State) was forced to leave the game during the fifth inning after a collision with left fielder Romano on a fly ball hit right between the two.

Romano was a bright spot for his club at the plate, continuing his hot streak to start the year. He has hit safely in each of the first five games of the season, including four multi-hit performances. Altogether, he is hitting .476 with six RBIs after his 2 for 4 performance against the Bullfrogs.

"I'm just seeing the ball well and putting good swings on it," said Romano of his hot start, "I just try to focus on what I can do to help the team… If I get a hit, I get a hit. If I don't, I've got my next at-bat."

The Chinooks finish their two-game series with the Bullfrogs on Sunday, May 31st. They continue the home stand with two games against the Madison Mallards on Monday, June 1st and Sunday, June 2nd before heading out on the road.

The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st 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). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website.  For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com.