Game Recap - River Bandits Squander Chances in Chisago, lose 8-3.

The St. Croix River Bandits (6-12, 9-16) couldn't execute when it mattered against the Chisago Lakes Bulldogs and suffered a 8-3 loss in Chisago.

The first three innings flew by as Jim Rochford for the River Bandits and Tim Swenson for the Bulldogs allowed only 1 hit between the two. The Bandits jumped on the board first with Jesse Hartel getting a two-out single followed by a Troy DeSmet single. On DeSmet's single, Jesse Hartel attempted to take third base, the Chisago shortstop, Jimmy Achartz, cut off the outfielder's throw and tried to gun down Hartel at third. However, the throw went off track and Hartel was able to score on the throwing error.

The Bulldogs struck back in the next inning. Kohl Agre started things with a lead-off single. Rochford was able to strike out two of the next three batters, and beaned one with an inside breaking pitch that forgot to break. With runners on first and second and two out, Dan Harmon hit a fly ball to right field which looked like a routine out. However, the ball got lost in the lights and landed in for a single, scoring Agre from 2nd base. The Bulldogs were able to get another single and another run in the inning, breaking the tie for a 2-1 lead.

The Bulldogs were able to get 2 more off of Rochford in the bottom of the 5th inning. Just-graduated Jeff Hollister hit a solo homerun to lead off the inning, and a couple of singles, a sac bunt, walk and an error later, the Bulldogs had a 4-1 lead. The Bandits got 2 back in the top of the 6th. Alex Sullivan and Jordan Martell walked and Trevor Todd reached by an error, allowing Sullivan to score. Jesse Hartel then hit a ball towards the 2nd baseman, however, the ball hopped up and hit baserunner Trevor Todd, causing him to be out. Troy DeSmet kept things alive with an RBI single to cut the Bulldog lead down to one. However, the Bandits could not keep the rally going, striking out twice to end the inning.

Things started getting out of hand for the Bandits in the bottom of hte seventh inning. After Rochford induced a fly ball out to right, he walked a batter and was lifted for Michael Chelberg. Chelberg was able to throw strikes but for some reason the Chisago Bulldogs had his number. Chelberg pitched to 6 batters and 4 of them were able to hit for singles. Trevor Todd came in to close out the inning, but the damage had been done and the Bandits trailed 8-3.

The Bandits had another chance in the top of the eighth. With no outs the Bandits had the bases loaded off of a walk, error and single by the flaming hot Troy DeSmet. However, it wasn't meant to be as the Bandits struck out twice and hit into a 6-3 groundout to end the inning.

While the Bandits are definetely progressing, they have to work on getting those timely hits when it matters and not let the little things become huge rallies on defense.

Next game is v. Nowthen at home 2pm Sunday 7/15

*Other Notes

*Boxscore is HERE

*Troy DeSmet is 9-10 in his last three games with 2 walks......wow!

*Jesse Hartel will be representing the St. Croix River Bandits in the Eastern Minny All Star Game on Saturday