LOVES PARK, Ill. – Rivets Manager Brian Smith said last week that Anthony Dahl would be one of the top pitchers for the Rivets this season.
Dahl (Arkansas) did not disappoint in his first start, where he pitched four strong innings of work, with five strikeouts and no walks for the Rivets. The only run he gave up all night, in the fourth inning, was unearned. Jeremy Orbik (Stetson) and Zack Thomas (Chicago State) provided good support in relief as the Rivets downed the Wisconsin Woodchucks by a final score of 8-2.
The Rivets had a strong offensive start, notching two runs in the first inning on a double by Cal Aldridge (Wisconsin-Whitewater) and sacrifice fly by Keith Kerrigan (Triton College). Aldridge and Kerrigan also drove in runs in the third inning, giving the Rivets a 4-0 lead heading to the fourth.
The Woodchucks responded with runs in the fourth and sixth innings, off two RBI from Ivan Nunez (North Carolina A&T). Despite a bases-loaded situation in the sixth, Wisconsin only managed that one run, and reliever Jeremy Orbik was able to get out of the jam for Rockford.
From there, Rockford scored four more runs in the bottom of the sixth, and did not look back. Thomas (1-0) pitched the last three innings without giving up a run and notched the win for the Rivets.
Rockford’s season continues tomorrow, Friday, June 2 against the Woodchucks, which is a part of the four-game pack. The $50 four-game pack includes a replica Rivets jersey, tickets to four select games and all-you-can-eat food (burgers, brats, hot dogs, grilled chicken, popcorn and fountain soda) for the following dates: Friday, June 2; Saturday, June 24; Friday, July 14; Friday, July 28. The four-pack can be purchased only by calling the Rivets at 815.240.4159 or in person at the Rivets Stadium box office. There are a limited number of jerseys available, so don’t wait to order this four-pack.
The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League, which will play its 24th season of summer collegiate baseball in 2017. The Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, 170 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals), two-time World Champion Ben Zobrist (Chicago Cubs) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (Boston Red Sox), Jordan Zimmermann (Detroit Tigers), Curtis Granderson (New York Mets) and Lucas Duda (Mets). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website, NorthwoodsLeague.com.
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