Mequon, WI – The Lakeshore Chinooks had a tough loss to the Madison Mallards in game one of Friday's doubleheader, taking an early lead, then going behind and seeing a late rally in the ninth come up just short. The club traveled to Eau Claire to take on the Express on Saturday, but they lost in similar fashion after scoring one run in the ninth but leaving the bases loaded to lose 5-4.

The Chinooks came out swinging in the top of the first, jumping out to a three-run lead. Zarley Zalewski (Kent State) began the fun, smacking a one-out double. He came around to score the game's first run thanks to Lucas Raley (Lake Erie College), who brought him in with a single. At this point in the season it was nothing new for Raley as that was his Northwoods-League-leading 42nd RBI of the season. 

After a walk drawn by Doug Kraeger (Richmond) gave Lakeshore two runners on with one out, the Chinooks scored their second run of the inning when Colby Fitch (Louisville) brought in Raley with a double. Eric Fasnacht (Concordia- St. Paul) proceeded to drive in the third and final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly, bringing Kraeger around to score. 

The Express did not wait long to provide some offense of their own, however. Facing Lakeshore starter Chris Hoffman (Missouri Southern), who was making his first start and second appearance of the year, Eau Claire scored two runs in the bottom of the first. The first run came around to score after Brady Burzynski (UW- Stout) walked, stole second, advanced to third on an errant throw by Fitch and scored on a wild pitch. The Express then plated their second run of the frame on an RBI groundout from Michael Papierski (Louisiana State). 

Hoffman came back out for the second but ran into more trouble. He gave up a leadoff double to Teddy Cillis (Hofstra), who tied the game when he came around to score on a wild pitch. Hoffman got two outs in the inning but was then pulled in favor of reliever Joe Stoll (Ohio State), who ensured there was no further damage in the inning. 

The score held at 3-3 until the sixth inning, when Eau Claire took the lead. With Stoll still on the mound, Cillis plated a run on an RBI single. The Express scored again off of Stoll in the seventh, this time when a run came around to score after Daulton Varsho (UW-Milwaukee) reached on an error by Fasnacht, scoring Sam Mrstik (Johnson County CC) to make it 5-3.

While Stoll did give up the lead, his performance was admirable for Lakeshore. He was the only reliever that the team used despite Hoffman's short start, and his 6.1 innings pitched were good for his longest outing of the year.

The Chinooks were held scoreless after the first all the way until the ninth, when they mounted a rally. After the first two hitters of the inning were retired, the team loaded the bases thanks to walks from Anthony Massicci (Canisius) and Raley and a single from Zalewski. The team made it a one-run ballgame after Kraeger drew a walk of his own to bring in Massicci. However, Fitch was then retired with the bases still loaded, ending the game at 5-4. 

These two clubs have not seen the last of each other as they will face off again on Sunday.This time the Chinooks will have the home field advantage, however, as the teams will play at Kapco Park. The clubs will square off at 3:05 in a resumed game from last Monday that was called at the end of the 6th because of rain with Lakeshore leading 3-0 but later re-opened by the league. After that, the teams will play their already-scheduled game, which is slated to start at 5:05.

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.