Mequon, WI – After a loss on independence day to the Rockers (1-1), the Chinooks (1-1) looked to turn the tide and get a win against Green Bay on Wednesday night at the Chinooks home ballpark of Moonlight Graham Field. Lakeshore did just that, grabbing a 12-5 win, splitting a home-home series with the Rockers. In this one, Lakeshore had a big six-run fourth inning that propelled them to victory. 

Michael Carpenter got the start today for the home Chinooks. His day got started with a batter reaching off an error that came on a Brady Counsell throw to first. The second batter of the night, Blake Wilson reached first on a walk, and the third batter, Nainoa Cardinez was hit by pitch to load the bases with no outs. Carpenter worked to get the first two outs of the inning with a flyout and a strikeout. Yet, a passed ball would be how the first run of the game would be scored making the lead 1-0 in favor of the Rockers.

In the bottom of the first, the Chinooks went three up, three down. The top of the second saw the Rockers get right back to where they left off in the first inning. The frame started with a ground-rule double by Lukas Schramm. A passed ball allowed Schramm to advance to third, and a 6-3 ground out sent Schramm home, extending the Rockers lead to 2-0 after an inning and a half of play. 

Joey Spence got the second inning started with a ball that went way up in the air and was dropped allowing Spence to reach second. After a Brady Counsell strikeout, Josh Overbeek dropped one into shallow right center advancing Spence to third. A botched pick-off attempt allowed Spence to score and advanced Overbeek to second, making the score 2-1 Rockers. 

Carpenter’s day ended after two innings with Nolan Kahle replacing him to start the third. Kahle had a productive day allowing only one hit and no runs. 

“I think the pitchers need to be a little better, except for Kahle, I don’t think we win that game if Kahle doesn’t do what he does, “ said Field Manager, Trevor Cho. 

Kahle went two innings today in relief of Carpenter only allowing one hit. 

Hunter Grimes started the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff double, putting himself in scoring position with no outs. Grimes made his way home with an RBI single from Counsell to start off a six run inning. With Counsell on first, Overbeek hit a single to put runners on first and second,  with one out. The hitting continued with Adam Cootway, who singled to load the bases. Cootways hit marked the end of Rockers starter, Bryce Crabb’s night.

On the day Crabb went for 3.1 innings, allowing six hits, two runs, and four strikeouts with no walks. In came Cooper Dosset to get the Rockers out of a bases loaded, one out jam.  Drew Townsend was the first batter Dosset faced. Townsend hit a ball deep into centerfield that allowed a run to come in making the score 3-2 in favor of the Chinooks. Gabe Roessler walked to load the bases followed up by Grant Ross who made it two batters in a row to be walked allowing another Chinooks runner to score. Avery Owusu-Asiedu kept the hitting going with a two RBI single increasing the Chinooks lead to 6-2. 

The Chinooks kept attacking the Rockers pitchers with Hunter Grimes now walking to load the bases for the third time in the inning. With Michael Riley on the mound, the Chinooks ended the inning with a 7-2 lead. 

In the following two innings, the Rockers cut the lead by two, scoring a run in both the fifth and sixth, but the Chinooks remained in the driver’s seat with a 7-4 lead. 

Lakeshore added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. After Grant Ross singled, Avery Owusu-Asiedu singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. A third single by Hunter Grimes brought home Ross. Now, with runners on first and second, Spence doubled to send in two Chinooks runners, making the lead 10-4 Chinooks. Overbeek added onto the lead with an RBI single, scoring Owusu-Asiedu.  

The Chinooks would tack on two more runs on route to an seven run victory. James Reese pitched the final inning as the Chinooks walked away with a much needed win.The Chinooks will look to fight for the second playoff spot in the Great Lakes West Divisions. To do that, they will have to right the ship and put together a winning second half.

“I think the thing that just killed us in the first half was team defense, “ said Cho

 The Chinooks start off a two game series against the Wisconsin Rapid Rafters with a home game on Thursday at 6:35 pm CST.