Mequon, WI- Coming off two one-run loses to the Madison Mallards, the Chinooks would travel home to face the Fond Du Lac Doc Spiders for a quick one game homestand.

The Chinooks came into today’s game with a 5-13 record. They are 8.5 games back of the Mallards with 29 games left before the all-star break. The Chinooks would send right hander Grant Hartwig to the mound. Coming into today’s game, Hartwig had appeared in only five games and worked seven innings. In those seven innings of work, Hartwig struck out eight batters and posted a 3.85 ERA.

Hartwig would allow one hit in the first but would ultimately turn away the Doc Spiders. The revamped Chinooks offense would put pressure on Dock Spider pitcher, Aaron Funk, from the start. Izaya Fullard would single and Cameron Hart would follow with a double. Newly acquired Cole Barr, from Indian University, would pop out and the Chinooks would strand two runners in scoring position.

The Dock Spiders would look to get things going offensively in the second but Hartwig would retire the first two batters. After retiring the first two batters he would allow a hit and he would hit a batter. Fond Du Lac looked to be in business. But Hartwig would dig deep and get out of the inning unscathed. The Chinooks would be put down in order and we would move to the third inning.

Hartwig would work the third and he would retire the Dock Spiders in order. The Chinooks would draw first blood as Justin Olson would single in Trent Bauer who hit a hard double into the gap. Justin Olson was able to steal second and get into scoring position, but that would be all for the Chinooks.

Lukas Meerdink would replace Hartwig in the beginning of the fourth. Hartwig would finish with five strikeouts in three innings of work. A very strong outing for Hartwig.

Meerdink would retire the first batter and he would allow a walk to the following batter. Meerdink would get out of the inning by getting Kellen Sarver to strikeout and Trent Bauer would pick off the runner on first.

The Chinooks’ side of the fourth would end up being a very valuable. Cole Barr would start things off with a single. An error by the right fielder would allow Barr to reach third as Mike Trautwein, another new face from Northwestern University, would draw a walk. Jake Thompson, back in the lineup, would hit a ‘booming” shot to right field and it would be misplayed by the right fielder. The bases would be loaded for David Dunn. Dunn would drive a single to the outfield and that would bring two runners to the plate. A wild pitch would allow the runners to advance and Bauer would walk. The bases would be loaded once again.

Olson would follow be grounding into a double play, but it would bring a run to the plate and only two outs would show on the scoreboard. The Chinooks would fill the bases once again but a ground out would leave the bases loaded.

A single and a another hit batter would allow the Dock Spiders to apply pressure early on in the inning. An error would allow the runner to move to third. Luckily for the Chinooks, the Dock Spiders would hit into a double play and only one run would score. The Dock Spiders would score another run, but the Chinooks would escape the inning. The Chinooks would get the two runs back courtesy of a sacrifice fly by David Dunn and a solo home run by Trent Bauer.

Two singles by Fond Du Lac would pressure the Chinooks pitching again. A couple pop outs and strategic ground outs would allow Fond Du Lac to score one run. The Chinooks offense would strike once again in the sixth. A walk by Mike Trautwien and a stolen by base by Daryl Meyers would start the Chinook offensive barrage. Jake Thompson would hit a hard single and it would drive in one run. David Dunn would drive in another run. That would be all for the Chinooks as they would go up 9-3.

Bailey Vuylsteke would replace Meerdink in the seventh. Meerdink would allow two earned runs, two walks, two strikeouts, and he would work three complete innings. Vuylsteke would only two hits in his first inning of work. He would get out of the inning. The Chinooks offense would look to add on some insurance runs. It was not to be. A lone walk would be the only action for the Lakeshore offense.

It would a quick eighth inning for both teams and the Chinooks would look to close things out. Vuylsteke would be back out to work in the ninth. He would retire the first batter of the inning but an error by Jake Thompson would open the door for Fond Du Lac. The Dock Spiders would hit two consecutive singles and the bases would be loaded. Vuylsteke would make things interesting by allowing two runs to score but ultimately retire the Dock Spiders.

One highlight of the night was Jake Thompson. He had three hits in five at bats. Along with one run scored he also batted in one run. Thompson also holds a batting average of .469.

He had been out of the lineup for short period of time with a hamstring issue. When you’re giving you team 100 percent on the field, injuries tend to happen. This is what Thompson had to say about his hitting tonight and how his hamstring felt tonight: “I’m seeing the ball well. I’ve been playing baseball my whole life, so nothing really changes when it comes to seeing pitches. The hamstring feels alright. I played yesterday so it’s getting better.”

The Chinooks travel to Fond Du Lac tomorrow to take on the Dock Spiders in a one game road game. They then travel back home, Sunday and Monday, to play Fond Du Lac in a two-game set.

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.