Mequon, WI – Entering play on Wednesday, the Chinooks had played seven games in the last five days, all on the road. The team had no break on Wednesday, playing an early 12:05 p.m. game in Kenosha with a 6:35 game scheduled back in Mequon. Against the Kingfish in game one of the home-and-away doubleheader, the Chinooks were defated 4-0.
Ryan Dunne (Josh Logan College) was just activated earlier in the day and received the start in this one. His outing did not last long, though, as he ran into trouble in the first. Dunne gave up a single to the first batter he faced, Zach Weigel (Seton Hall), and gave up a double to the next hitter, Nick Sergakis (Ohio State). The first run of the game then scored when Weigel game around on an Eric Filia (UCLA) sacrifice fly. Sergakis was then plated after third baseman Zarley Zalewski (Kent State) made an error that allowed Zach Ratcliff (Ohio State) to reach base.
After the bases were loaded, Kenosha's third and final run of the frame came when Dunne walked Brody Westmoreland (San Diego State) to bring in Ratcliff. Dunne was charged with two runs after one of the three was unearned. That was the only inning he hurled as manager Eddy Morgan elected to bring in reliever John Schreiber (Kent State) for the start of the second inning.
Schreiber has been a nice asset for the Chinooks this season in long relief and spot starting duty. Entering this game, he owned a 2.50 ERA on the year. He threw a scoreless second inning but gave up a solo home run to Jeremy Vazquez (Florida) in the third to make it 4-0. Schreiber settled down after that to hold the Kingfish scoreless for the next four innings. He ended up throwing a total of six innings in relief while giving up just one run on five hits and striking out seven. After Dunne's short outing and the sheer amount of games the Chinooks have played as of late, Schreiber's outing was key to give a taxed bullpen some much-needed rest.
Kingfish starter E.J. Trapino (Wright State) gave up very little to the Chinooks. He retired 13 of the first 14 hitters he faced in the game and held the Lakeshore offense scoreless over 7.0 innings pitched. The Chinooks managed just one hit off of him and never put more than one baserunner on in an inning.
With the score 4-0 and another game still to be played on the day, Morgan decided to bring on a position player, Christian Hicks (Florida), to pitch in order to save his bullpen for later. Hicks did pitch in high school, even posting a 2.40 ERA his senior year, and he is only one year removed from playing at that level. He looked solid on the mound as he fired a scoreless eighth inning without giving up a hit and striking out one.
Ultimately, Lakeshore managed just two hits in the game while getting shut out by Kenosha for the second game in a row. Mark Kolozsvary (Florida) was the only player to reach base twice as he went 1 for 2 with a walk.
The Chinooks and Kingfish will face off again tonight at Kapco Park at 6:35 p.m. After that, the Chinooks begin a two-game home series against the La Crosse Loggers on Thursday.
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 draws 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 (WSH) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WSH), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com.
