Game Recap - Schmidt, Elmwood Baffle Bandits

The St. Croix River Bandits had a tough go round Sunday afternoon against the Elmwood Expos under the hot sun. The Bandits started off well, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning off of Elmwood starting pitcher Perry Schmidt. John Peterson scored from 2nd off of a Scott Lindholm RBI single to left center field. However, with runners on 1st and 2nd and with two outs the Bandits were not able to capitalize. Unfortunately that would be the story of the day. The Bandits had 7 hits in the game, drew 8 walks, had 1 hit batsmen, and had two batters reach on errors. However, the Bandits could not get timely 2-out hits that they needed, stranding 10 runners on 2nd and 3rd base, and leaving the bases loaded 3 times.

Bandits starting pitcher Jim Rochford had a less than stellar performance. Rochford was hit all over the field for 6 hits in 5 innings, and also had some control issues, allowing 5 walks, and giving up 7 runs (6 earned). 3 of those walks came around to score later in the inning, "That's why we can't afford to give up walks , if I make those guys put the ball in play, chances are 66% of the time they are going to get out. If I would have gone out there and given up no walks we probably let up 1 run, instead of 7.

Elmwood scored 4 runs in the top of the 2nd inning, to take the lead 4-1. Their runs came off of 2 walks, a double, and 2 singles. Elmwood struck again in the 4th inning, scoring 3 runs off of a Rochford walk, 3 singles, and a sacrifice fly.

The Bandits did score another run in the 5th and 9th. Both runs were scored by starting LF Michael Chelberg. A 3B Kyle Kahl double in the 5th allowed Chelberg to score, and a passed ball in the 9th brought the Bandits run total up to 3.

Trevor Todd relieved Jim Rochford in the 6th inning, and threw 2 innings. Todd did not fair much better than Rochford, giving up 4 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) to the Expos hot bats. Curtis Roebuck pitched the final two innings for the Bandits and had the most success. Roebuck walked 2, allowed only 1 hit, and no runs.

The Bandits hope to rebound Tuesday with Adam Lewis on the mound versus River Falls @ Oakey Park in Osceola at 7:30pm.