Mequon, WI – With the exception of Lucas Raley (Lake Erie College) and Lake Bachar (UW-Whitewater), the Lakeshore Chinooks two All-Stars, the entire Lakeshore squad got three much-needed days of rest from Monday through Wednesday thanks to the Northwoods League All-Star break. The team got right back at it on Thursday, traveling to Green Bay for the first contest of a two-game series with the Bullfrogs. They certainly looked like a well-rested team, jumping out to a 6-3 victory. 

Marshall Kasowski (Houston) started the game for the Chinooks. He quickly allowed a pair of runners to reach base in the bottom of the first with no outs, but he managed to escape the jam without giving up a run. However, Kasowski was unexpectedly removed from the game after just that inning. There is no word yet on whether his removal was due to injury or simply a coaching decision. 

The Chinooks got on the board first, plating a run in the top of the second. Green Bay starter Sam Brunner (Dayton) walked Doug Kraeger (Richmond) to lead off the frame, and the next batter, Colby Fitch (Louisville) singled to put two runners on. The team then loaded the bases with one out thanks to an infield single from Jack Benninghoff (Arkansas). Kraeger came around to score when Eric Fasnacht (Concordia- St. Paul) grounded into a fielder's choice, but that was all Lakeshore could manage after they threatened for more. 

The club padded their lead with another run in the top of the third. Zarley Zalweski (Kent State) doubled in the inning, and Kraeger followed up with a double of his own to make it a 2-0 game. 

Green Bay quickly narrowed the gap in the bottom of the third, however. Facing reliever Jake Tuttle (UW-Milwaukee), who came on for Kasowski in the second, Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) singled with one out. He would then come around to score on a double from Brian Celsi (California) to bring the score to 2-1. 

The Bullfrogs struck again in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. Ty Blankmeyer (St. John's) reached base via a two-out single, and he was plated by a Logan Taylor (Louisville) single. Tuttle did escape potential disaster, though, as he worked out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam. 

Lakeshore came right back to regain the lead in the top of the fifth with a big inning. Anthony Massicci (Canisius) reached base with a leadoff double to left-center field, and Raley singled to bring him home and give the Chinooks a 3-2 lead. The team was hardly done there, however. After Raley stole second, he came around to score on a triple off the bat of Fitch. Jake Romano (Miami-Ohio) then broke things open, smacking a two-run homer over the short porch in right field to give his team the 6-2 advantage. 

Ryan Dunne (John Logan College) was brought on by Chinooks manager Eddy Morgan to relieve Tuttle in the fifth. He retired the first six batters he faced before getting into a jam in the seventh. He allowed two baserunners to get aboard with one out, but Dunne locked things down and escaped the pickle. Again he faced a two-on, one-out situation in the eighth but got out of the inning unharmed. That would be his last frame as he fired 4.0 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out six. 

Jack Landwehr (Illinois State) was the final pitcher that Lakeshore used. He gave up a run but ultimately kept his team on top. 

The Chinooks were held scoreless from the fifth inning on, but that hardly mattered as they crusied to the 6-3 victory. The team managed a total of 12 hits, including multi-hit nights from Massicci (2 for 5), Zalewski (2 for 5) and Fitch (3 for 4). 

The Chinooks and Bullfrogs will be back in action again on Friday as they finish out the two-game set in Green Bay. 

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 21 year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com.