Mequon, WI – The Chinooks fell in game one to the Battle Creek Bombers 0-2 in what ended up being a pitchers duel bringing the Chinooks record to 5-8 on the year.
The Bombers jump on the Chinooks pitcher Keenan Bartlett (Richmond) early scoring two runs in the top of the first. Jarrod Watkins (Central Michigan) hits a ground ball and reaches second base on an error. A ground ball advanced Watkins to third and Daniel Jipping (Central Michigan) doubled to left center bringing Watkins home making it 1-0 Bombers. A passed ball by Chinooks catcher advances Jipping to third followed by a double to right from Christian Helsel (Penn State) scoring Jipping increasing the Bombers lead to 2-0.
After the first inning Bartlett settled down and pitched an impressive game throwing 93 pitches in six innings and racking up five strikeouts. Bartlett talked about what adjustments he made to his pitching saying "After the first inning I really focused on getting my pitches down and in the zone." He worked on getting the ball out and in front.
Bartlett got the support from his bullpen for the rest of the night. Coming into pitch in the top of the seventh was Liam Jenkins (Arizona State) who got two strikeouts in two and two thirds innings. Nick Lackney (Minnesota) came in to pitch for his first outing with the Chinooks pitching a third of an inning and getting one strike out.
The Chinooks bats were cold tonight as they could not get anything started. Bomber's pitcher Jordan Horak (Portland) performed well against the Chinooks, coming into the game with a win, a 3.60 ERA and nine strikeouts. Tonight Horak got five strikeouts in six innings pitched and only gave up two hits to the Chinooks.
This is the second time that the Chinooks have been held scoreless this season. Bartlett knows the team will improve saying "We don't need to push to make a lot of changes. Today just wasn't our day. Our pitchers did well for us and our hitters just have to come out and perform." The Chinooks continue their home stand Monday night at Kapco Park looking to split the series with the Bombers.
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visithttp://northwoodsleague.com/lakeshore-chinooks.
