JC DeMuri takes an at-bat for the Rivets. In Sunday's game, DeMuri hit a grand slam in the first inning. Photo courtesy of Doug Timmermann and JK Richards Photography.
LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Kenosha Kingfish came to town Sunday afternoon having won eight of their last 10 games.
However, Kenosha’s momentum was not enough to take down the Rivets. Rockford stayed hot at the plate and got timely runs to beat the Kingfish 9-5 Sunday afternoon. Jack Granath (Davenport University) got the win for Rockford (8-5) as the offense behind him teed off on the pitching staff for Kenosha (8-5).
Granath, the Rockton native and Hononegah alum, gave up a solo shot in the first inning to Connor Doyle (University of San Diego). But it did not take long for the Rivets to regain the lead. JC DeMuri (Quincy) took Kingfish starter Colan Treml (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) deep with the bases loaded to put Rockford up 4-1 in the bottom of the first.
Granath settled in for the next two innings, but gave up another solo shot to Max Widmar (Wisconsin-Parkside) in the 4th to put Kenosha within two runs. Rockford, however, scored two of their own in the fourth. Nate Montgomery (South Suburban College) scored off an RBI triple from Trevor Paradoski (Texas Tech), and Anthony Forte (Louisiana State-Eunice) brought in Paradoski with a sacrifice fly to extend Rockford’s lead to 6-2.
The Kingfish would not go away, scoring runs off Granath again in the 5th and 6th innings. It took another big inning for Rockford in the 7th to put things away. They scored three runs thanks to a Kenosha error and a pair of Rockford singles from Montgomery and Forte to take a 9-5 lead heading to the eighth.
Zack Thomas (Chicago State) pitched three innings in relief of Granath (2-1) and only gave up one run as he earned the save for Rockford. Sunday’s game was Rockford’s sixth win in the past seven games.
The Rivets continue their six-game home stand on Monday for another game against the Kingfish. Gates open at 5:35 p.m. for the 6:35 p.m. first pitch. The Rivets’ last two games before hitting the road will be a rematch with the Madison Mallards on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday is Kids’ Day, where the first few lucky fans will get a Rivets poster! Don’t forget to order your Rivets tickets today by calling the Rockford Rivets ticket office at 815.240.4159.
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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