Game Recap - Bandits bats struggle vs. Menomonie

The St. Croix River Bandits (2-12 conf. 3-17 overall) lost to the Menomonie Eagles (8-7 conf. 19-11 overall) on Saturday of Wannigan Days 8-3. The Bandits started lefty Trevor Todd who was 2-4 on the season with an ERA of 4.24 (ERA of 3.11 in his previous 8 appearances) making his 5th start of the season.

The first 3 innings flew by quickly as both Trevor Todd and Menomonie pitcher Ben Sivertson allowed only 2 combined baserunners. The Eagles scored in the top of the 4th inning. Todd walked #2 hitter Joe Mohr to lead off the inning. Luke Schultz grounded out to 2nd baseman Curtis Roebuck, advancing Mohr to 2nd. Mickey Boyle singled and Cory Hastings was plunked to load the bases with only 1 out. Trey Vavra hit a 1-1 pitch to shortstop Matt Vold, and it looked like the inning may end in a double play. However, the ball took a hop and skidded underneath Vold's glove, scoring 2 Eagles. The Eagles scored their third and last run of the inning on a fielder's choice groundout by Andy Lorenzen, scoring Hastings from 3rd. Eagles 3 Bandits 0.

The Eagles scored a single run in the top of the 5th, when Mohr lifted a flyball to deep left center field. The ball was hit as high as it was far, and was just far enough to clear the 330 foot fenceline for a solo homerun. Eagles 4 Bandits 0.

The Eagles tacked on another run in the next inning. A leadoff double by Boyle was almost squandered by the Eagles. Todd was able to strike out Hastings, and induce Trey Vavra into hitting a little dribbler back to the mound that Todd fielded to first base. Todd quickly got behind Lorenzen in the count, and Lorenzen was able to drive a 3-1 fastball for a single, scoring Boyle from 2nd base. Eagles 5 Bandits 0.

Until the bottom of the 8th inning the Bandits only managed 3 baserunners from 3 singles. Ben Sivertson proved to be a crafty righty. He mixed in a fastball, curveball, and changeup - all pitches he threw with accuracy, and had the Bandits off balance all day. However, in the bottom of the 8th inning he struggled with his control. After Jeff Johnson popped out to the shortstop, Will Ball was hit by a pitch. Then Curtis Roebuck was hit by a pitch. Then Gus Koecher was hit by a pitch. Three consecutive Bandits had reached base, all without swinging the bat. Scott Lindholm came to the plate, 0-3 on the day with 1 strikeout, and managed to rip a full-count line drive to left field, over the left fielder Ned Welch's head. Welch, who was playing deep, quickly recovered and was able to gun down Gus Koecher trying to make 3rd from 1st base. The Lindholm double drove in 2 runs. Matt Vold seemed to be the only Bandit that Eagles pitcher Sivertson could not get out. Vold dumped a 1-0 pitch to right center field, scoring Lindholm from 2nd base. Vold's final line for the day: 3-4, RBI. Steve Siqueiros came to the plate with 2 outs, representing the tying run. But Sivertson had already regained his composure and control and Siqueiros went down on 3 quick strikes. Eagles 5 Bandits 3.

The Bandits kept Todd in for the 9th inning, having retired the last 6 batters in a row, and may have made a mistake in doing so. Todd allowed a single to Lorenzen and then hit Alex Buckley. Bandits management turned to 18 year old Will Ball. Ball's first pitch was errant, allowing the runners to advance to 3rd and 2nd. Ned Welch then grounded to third base, but Johnson's throw was wide of 1st base. First baseman Michael Chelberg leaped for the ball but ended up only knocking the ball into the Bandits dugout, allowing both runners on 2nd and 3rd to score. Welch would later score on a sacrifice fly, and the Eagles got all 3 runs back in the top of the 9th. Eagles 8 Bandits 3.

The Bandits went down quietly in the ninth, getting only a walk off of relief pitcher Rob Heller.
The Bandits dropped their 5th game in a row and haven't won since coming off the 2 week hiatus during the 4th of July. "This was a pretty ugly game," said pitcher Jim Rochford. "By no stretch of the imagination we could have allowed only two runs today, however, if you look at it on the other side, if Sivertson doesn't bean three batters, we score only one instead of three. Trevor pitched absolutely great, its just amazing to me, what happens when our team gives up any free bases. We walked only two guys and beaned two. Three of those four guys scored."

BOXSCORE is HERE

The Bandits next game is Wannigan Days Game #2 - Sunday vs. Hudson.

NOTES

Game Balls
1. Matt Vold: 3-4, RBI

2. Trevor Todd: 8IP, 3ER, 6H, 5K, 2BB, 2HBP

3. Scott Lindholm: 1-4, R, 2B, 2RBI

Unheralded Hero of the Game:
All of the staff that worked the 4th/5th/6th tournament this weekend, you make it possible for the Bandits and the St. Croix Youth Baseball Association to exist. THANK YOU

WOW Play of the Day:
Not much action on the big boys field, most of the yelling and screaming came from the little kids fields, where numerous games ended in walk-off fashion. My favorite play of the day was when I was umping a 6th grade game behind the plate and the catcher would frame the ball when it was 8 inches outside or up near a kid's head. Then he would drop his head in disgust when I called it a ball. I thought he was going to try and fight me. Otherwise, I suppose three hit batsmen in a row is enough of a WOW for our game.

Players Missing in Action:
Kahl - Lost at a wedding
JP - Lost at a Perkins
Larcom - Lost at a little kids tournament
Svoboda - Lost at a tractor pull
Switala - Lost in a sweatshirt
Gagner - Lost in a motel bed

Estimated Attendance:
40-60