Game Recap - Bandits can't keep lead vs. Elmwood, lose 10th straight.

The St. Croix River Bandits (0-10, 0-5) twice had the lead in the game vs. Elmwood on Saturday, but couldn't hold on to either one. The weather was cold and dreary, and the field grass long and wet. The Bandits started off strong in the first inning. CF Scott Lindholm walked and reached third on two passed balls. SS Kyle Kahl hit a sharp single to knock in Lindholm for the first run of the game. The Bandits, however would leave 2 men on base in the first, 1 in the third, and 2 more in the 4th.

SP Michael Chelberg pitched a mostly stellar game for the Bandits. Chelberg gave up a harmless single in the 2nd, and didn't let up another hit until the 4th inning. DH Justin Kerg was moved to 2nd base after Chelberg let up a 1 out walk to P Dylan Demotts. LF Jason Brenner hit the ball softly to third base, were Curtis Roebuck was able to get the single out at first, moving runners to 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. The Expos were able to score their first run of the game when the next batter, RF Jed Tiffany, grounded to third, but the throw was misplayed at first base. Chelberg was able to get out of the inning only letting up the single run, and the score tied 1-1.

As the game dragged on, the temperature continued to drop and the rain and wind picked up, but with the score tied, the game went on despite the poor conditions.

The Bandits struck back in the top of the 6th. 1B Adam Lewis was able to reach on an error, and he was bunted over by C Steve Siqueiros. Chelberg was able to come through with a single to score Lewis from 2nd base, and the Bandits retook the lead 2-1.

The Bandits allowed the Expos to get the run back in the bottom of the 6th in typical Bandits style. Chelberg walked the lead off batter, Kerg, who then advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch. Kerg reached 3rd on a ground out to SS Kyle Kahl. Demotts was able to lift a 1-out flyball into foul territory in left field. LF Tim Wampfler made the play, but Kerg was able to score from third, tying the game at 2.

In the 7th inning, 2B John Peterson hit a 2-out double, but was stranded on 2nd base. The Expos were able to take the lead in the bottom of the 7th, once again, in typical Bandits fashion. Chelberg, who had only given up 2 hits, but had walked 4, was over 100 pitches but remained in the game. Chelberg walked the lead off and #9 hitter, Ario Cognetta. Chelberg was able to get the next two Expos out, but Cognetta was able to steal 2nd and get into scoring position. Chelberg and C Siqueiros met at the mound and made the good decision to walk #3 hitter Jonah Lansing, the create force outs at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. However, Chelberg, taking extra precaution as to not throw a wild pitch, threw to first "intentional ball" right over the plate, letters high. Lansing crushed the ball to CF, were an unprepared (and rightly so) outfield had no chance of throwing out Cognetta at the plate. The Expos scored another insurance run in the 7th increasing their lead to 4-2. The Bandits went down quietly in the 8th, with Expo SP Dylan Demotts striking out the side. The weather, which had been deteriorating for the past hour, finally was enough for the umpire to call the game as the Expos had a 2 run lead after the Bandits batted in the 8th.

Once again the Bandits came up short despite a great effort by SP Michael Chelberg (minus a ball that wasn't a ball). The Bandits played an excellent defensive game, making only a single error, which, in Bandits style, led to a run. The Bandits play River Falls Fighting Fish on Sunday, where SP Will Ball looks to make his Bandits debut. The Bandits have had trouble in the past hitting off of Fish pitching, but hopefully tomorrow they can find their sticks and stick it to the fish for win #1.

NOTES

Game Balls

1. The Weather - the game was untimately decided by the weather. Not only did the weather make scorched fly balls look like harmless pop ups, it made normally "speedy" ball players into slow clunkers on the bases and in the field. The game was ended early due to the weather, not that the Bandits were guarenteed to score more runs in the 9th, but the rain and wind stole their chance away. So congratulations weather, you won.

2. SP Michael Chelberg: innings 1 thru 5. He allowed only 2 hits and 3 walks thru the first 5 innings and only 1 run (unearned) allowed. We'll let the last 2 innings be forgotten.

3. Take you pick: Steve Siqueiros (1-2, BB, SAC, K), Kyle Kahl (1-4, RBI, K), John Peterson (1-3, 2B, BB, 4 PO)...

Unheralded Heroes of the Game:
Uh....um.....how about the guys who had to drive all the way down to Elmwood....good enough for me.

WOW Play of the Game:
Hard to top an intentional ball, that crosses the plate and is laced into a defense not expecting to field it, which then scores the go ahead run, in the middle of a torrential downpour, in 40 degree weather.....Wow.

Players Missing in Action:
Trevor Todd - chronic gingivitis
Jim Rochford - "leakage"....oh wait, that was a different Bandit, Rochford has the clap.
Jake Larcom - branding and inseminating cattle
Gus Koecher -trapping beavers and rodents, and creating clothing for the less fortunate.
Matt Vold - busy saving kittens and small children in Madison as his alter-ego Mr. America.
Tim Whittenberg(er) -had a very nice calm weekend at the cabin with some friends where I am sure no alcohol is/was involved.
Jeff Johnson - got married...shhhh... don't tell his wife.