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Published On: May 29th, 2019

 

Battle Creek, MI – The 2019 Lakeshore Chinooks started the season off on the right foot yesterday in Battle Creek, Michigan. With a five-run victory in game one, the Chinooks confidence could not have been higher. The front office feels very good about the talent they have brought in. And by the looks of it, there’s no doubt this team should be competing for a playoff spot.

Right-hander Randon Dauman made his first start of the season for the Chinooks. He went three and a third innings only giving up one run but allowing five walks. He currently sits with a 2.70 ERA. It was a strong start for the Chinooks pitcher. Following the first inning of work, the Chinooks tallied a run in the top of the second.

In the top of the third inning, a leadoff walk by Jake Thompson and a double by Cameron Hart continued the Lakeshore offensive bombardment. Griffin Doersching would walk the bases loaded following an Austin Murr strikeout. Justin Olson smoked a single to left, which brought around two runs, but was put out trying to stretch his base hit into a double. The Chinooks would add on one more run and have a three-run lead going into the bottom of the of the fourth inning.

Ryan Schmit would come on in relief for the Chinooks. He would work two and two third innings of work and record five strikeouts in his outing. The game almost got away from Lakeshore with two errors being made on defense. The offense had a great start which allowed the Chinooks to maintain a one run leading heading int to the fifth inning.

Lakeshore’s offense struck again in the top of the fifth inning. With the top of the order coming around again, the Chinooks were able to make the Bombers pay. Jake Thompson came up a big a with 2-RBI single which really helped ice the game. Lakeshore pitchers Trevor Tietz and Bailey Vuylsteke worked a combined three innings allowing only one hit and recording three strike outs. Lakeshore would go onto win 8-3. Jake Thompson earned Northwoods League player of the night. He recorded 2 singles, 2 RBI’s and three walks.

Following the five-run win, the Chinooks had a quick turnaround. Playing at 9:05 a.m. Jarod Large the big lefty from Australia got the opening nod. He worked a clean two first innings. It seemed as if the offense had picked up right where it left off. Jake Thompson singled in Jake Malec and pair of wild pitches allowed the Chinooks to apply pressure early on. Jarod would get through three and two third innings before being pulled. He allowed only one run and recorded two strikeouts and currently sits with a 2.45 ERA.

Two unforced errors allowed the Bombers to grab a two-run lead in the third inning. This game had a different “tone” to it. The offense was quiet all day and the pitching had its hiccups. Aaron Ras and Derek Drees worked in relief for game two of the series. They both worked a combined three and third innings. Pitching, as a group, gave up six runs, but some unforced errors allowed Battle Creek to tally more runs. The Lakeshore offense was held to only three hits the entire game. Jake Thompson had the lone RBI. One bright spot of the game was Grant Hartwig. He only pitched one inning but recorded three strikeouts. The Chinooks would fall to the Bombers 9-1 and split the series opener.

The Chinooks return to Kapco Park for Opening Day and look forward to a two-game set against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. First pitch is 6:35 PM.

The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit  www.lakeshorechinooks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.