Game Recap - Bandits end the weekend with two losses to East Bethel.

~Note~ I apologize for the tardiness of this game recap, however, I has blessed with my second son on Sunday and have not had much chance to write and thus the recap comes now...better late than never~

GAME 1:

The St. Croix River Bandits (0-2, 0-7) are in a giant rut. The Bandits faced off against the Bandits of East Bethel last Saturday and dropped both games of the doubleheader. The first game was a close one. The Bandits started Adam Lewis on the mound, and things started off a little rocky. Lewis allowed a walk and two hits in the first inning, which led to a run, and two hits in the second that led to another run. The East Bethel Bandits notched another three runs in the 4th inning due to a couple untimely errors and two singles.

The St. Croix River Bandits were down 5-0 going to the bottom of the 5th with only 1 hit in the game. RF Tim Wampfler led the scoring off with a one out single, followed by a 1B Jesse Hartel walk. 2B John Peterson smacked a double to the right center gap, scoring Wampfler and giving the Bandits their first run of the day. SS Kyle Kahl followed with a sharp single that drove in 2 more runs. LF Trevor Todd finished the scoring by crushing a ball to right center field, giving himself a double and an RBI.

The East Bethel Bandits struck again in the top of the 6th, R&B sensation R. Kelly hit a solo shot to dead center increasing their lead to 6-4. The Bandits were able to get a baserunner on in the 7th inning when Kyle Kahl reached on an error by the shortstop. CF Scott Lindholm then blazed a 1-1 fastball to left center field. However, Bandits luck would strike again. Due to the dryness in the region, the ball took one bounce and hopped over the fence for a ground-rule double that certainly would have been a triple had it plopped against the fence. Kahl was held up at 3rd and Lindholm was given 2nd. Trevor Todd lifted the ball to deep left field to score Kahl from 3rd. Had the ground-rule double been a triple - the game would have been tied 6-6 instead of 6-5. DH Joe Holman struck out swinging, leaving Lindholm stranded at 2B.

Game Balls:

1. Tim Wampfler - went 2 - 3, a sweet double, and with a run scored, saw the ball well all day.

2. Trevor Todd - 1 -3 with a double and 2RBI (reached base twice on errors also)

3. Kyle Kahl - 1 - 4 but scored twice, had 2 RBI, and stole a base.

Unheralded Hero(es) of the Game:
The St. Croix River Bandits team which only struck out 4 times in the first game...

Just Amazing:
John Peterson ran home from 2nd on a single and was dead meat as the outfielder threw a bead to home plate. Instead of slowing down or trying to slide under the catcher (and for those who are unaware, bowling over the catcher is not allowed in this league), JP "superman-ed" over the catcher and was able to swipe home plate to score.

GAME 2:

All the momentum the Bandits had in the first game was lost between the 15 minute break that was taken between the two games. The Bandits were able to score first, with three straight singles by CF Scott Lindholm, 2B Curtis Roebuck, and DH Trevor Todd, but were only able to get 1 run with the bases loaded and no outs. The East Bethel Bandits must have seen enough of their starting pitcher, and pulled him in favor of a different pitcher after the 1st inning. The Bandits scored one run in each of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th inning, gathering 5 hits and a walk.

Chris Chelberg started on the mound for the Bandits. This is Chelberg's first action he had seen in over 10 years. His start had mixed results, he was able to get the first three batters of the game out, including a strikeout. However, with the Bandits up 2-0 going into the 2nd, Chelberg gave up 3 hits and 2 walks, which aided by an error, allowed 4 runs. Jim Rochford took the mound in the 3rd inning and fared no better. Rochford have up a whopping 10 hits, 2 walks, and 6 runs in only 3 innings. "Obviously one of the worst outings I've had, they hit the ball well, I thought I threw well but sometimes you get hit, and that's what happened today." The East Bethel Bandits were able to end the game in the bottom of the 6th with 4 more runs of off relief pitcher John Peterson, who was heard saying after the game, "I think I'm officially retired from pitching". The St. Croix River Bandits weren't able to get a hit after the 4th, getting only 1 more baserunner off of a hbp. The Bandits lost 14-4 in 6 innings.

P Jim Rochford had some insight after the game. "You know were are just struggling right now, we scrath across 4 or 5 runs and let up 6 to 12, or we let up only 3-4 runs and score none. We just haven't found the winning formula yet. Maybe we need to be like the Tampa Bay Rays and take out the extra part in our name, just be the St. Croix Bandits, I don't know. Its better than Trevor Todd's suggestion of playing to the death."

Game Balls:

1. Michael VanderPlas - went 2/3 and scored 2 runs (1 of which he manufactured with aggressive baserunning. Vandy also gunned a guy down from left field with a strike to home plate.

2. Curtis Roebuck - went 1/2 with a run scored, a bunt single and in two games pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up only 2 hits, no walks, and no runs.

3. Adam Lewis - may have gone 0/3 but did have 2 RBI and played good D.

Unheralded Hero of the Day:

Jeanne Rochford for once again doing to Bandits concession stand and peddling our wares to unknowing teens and their families.

The Boulevard Bar and Grill for the Bandits Bash that Night - GOOD TIMES

Missing from the Day:
Jay Gagner - arm amputation
Mitch Thompson - family vacation....really...
Gus Koecher & Matty Vold - still getting warmed up for the Bandits season
Michael Chelberg - had detention at Winona, didn't know they did that at college.