Game Recap - Bandits have late lead again, but lose 8-5 v. Hinckley

The St. Croix River Bandits (7-14, 10-18) are just having troubles closing the doors on teams this week. The Bandits were only able to bring 10 guys up to Hinckley's magnificent Brennan Field (a sight I implore you to go see during this year's playoffs). Previous to the game Hinckely was 17-3 in league play, a team full of good hitting, and good pitching. Jim Rochford took the mound for the River Bandits and due to lack of young catchers, Brian Jacobson put on the gear and called to game from behind the plate. Rochford pitched 8 innings giving up 12 hits, 8 runs (5 earned), while walking only 3, and striking out 5.

The first action of the game was in the bottom of the third, the Knights were able to score a run off of a 1-out walk and a pair of singles. In the fourth the Knights added 2 more runs with 2 more singles, a sac bunt, a squeeze bunt that ended up being a bunt single, and a sacrifice fly. The sixth inning led to another run for the Knights with a 1-out walk, and was able to move around the bases and score on some infield errors later in the inning. After the game Rochford just shook his head and said, "It doesn't matter how many outs there are, it just seems whenever I walk a guy, he scores, and that's why you've got pound the strike zone and not give up free bases."

With the Knights leading 4-0, and the Bandits managing only 3 hits in the first 6 innings, it was starting to look bleak for the double-digit Bandits fans that had traveled all the way up to Hinckley. Then Brian Jacobson led the inning off with an absolute shot to left field that somehow stayed in the park. Jacobson was able to "wheel" in with a lead off double. After a Kyle Kahl flyout, Curtis Roebuck was hit by a pitch. Michael Chelberg then singled to load the bases. Nick Hartman was hit by a 3-0 pitch to score Jacobson. Scott Lindholm came through with a 2-RBI single in which was misplayed the left fielder so Lindholm was able to take 2nd base. Matt Vold struck out and then Jesse Hartel walked. With 2 outs Troy DeSmet hit a 2-RBI single, and the Bandits took the lead 5-4.

The Hinckley Knights quickley answered back with back to back doubles in the bottom of the seventh by soon to be All Eastern Minny players, Mike Rote and Shawn Ausmus, and a couple of untimely Bandits later, the Knights had regained the lead 7-5. The Knights added 1 more in the eighth with a successful squeeze bunt after two singles to give you your end score of 8-5.

The Bandits gave the Hinckley Knights a scare, as they have to a bunch of Eastern Minny teams in this late season. "We are so close to having everything gel together, we make a few plays and that game is ours. We have had many close games, early against Quamba and Nowthen, then Mora, and now Hinckley where we just let the game get away from us and we had a real good chance of winning." said Jim Rochford.

*Other Notes*

*Full Boxscore HERE

*7 different Bandits had base hits.

*Jim Rochford has pitched 73 2/3 innings this season to lead the Eastern Minny Conference...goals for next year is to get that 4.40 ERA down to 3.5 or below. Rochford's Eastern Minny pitching stats since June 15th: 43.2 IP 3.51 ERA 24k 12 BB. Not dominating....but he'll give you a chance to win.