Game Recap - Bandits drop close game to Rival Osceola

The St. Croix River Bandits (2-10, 3-15) struggled to hit after coming back from a 2-week holiday hiatus, and had their hands full with Ross Benitz and Jacob Kiehl of the Osceola Braves (6-4). The Braves quickly took the lead in the bottom of the 1st inning, when speedster LF Ryan Rugg poked a ball just past P Trevor Todd, towards second base. Bandits SS Matt Vold charged the ball and quickly relayed it to first base, but was unable to catch the speedy Rugg. Rugg was able to steal both 2nd and 3rd base on the Todd-Siqueiros battery, and then scored on a Tim Urban groundout to 2b.

The Braves rallied again in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Braves Brian Hauck led the inning off with a single. Trevor Todd was able to strike out Pete Droher and Steve Papke, but Hauck reached 2nd base on a passed ball. Travis Pilz hit a 2-out single to right field where Bandits RF Michael Chelberg fielded the ball and launched it towards home plate, trying to catch Hauck running in from 2nd. Siqueiros was able to catch the ball and tried to apply the tag to Hauck, who was attempting to slide under it. Dust and sand filled the air with the slide and it wasn't certain whether Hauck was safe or was the 3rd out of the inning. With everyone looking to the umpire, he raised out both arms out, indicating that Hauck was safe, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead. The inning dragged on, as Braves C Ian Kalata dropped a ball down the first base line for a double, scoring Pilz. Ryan Rugg then singled for the 2nd time in 2 innings, scoring Kalata, making the game 4-0. Todd was able to stop the bleeding, picking off Rugg at first base for the 3rd out of the inning.

While the Bandits were able to get runners on base in both the 1st and 2nd inning. Braves SP Ross Benitz was able to induce 2 groundball-inning-ending-doubleplays. So when Bandits RF Michael Chelberg reached in the 3rd with a walk to start the inning, 3rd base coach Jim Rochford states "There was no way he wasn't going to steal," and thats how Chelberg reached second base. Chelberg was able tag up and reach third base after Jeff Johnson flew out to deep left field for the 2nd out of the inning, which would have been a home run in any other park in the conference. Chelberg then scored without a Bandit even needing to touch the ball, as a Benitz/Kalata passed ball reached the backstop, Chelberg raced home and scored.

The Bandits scored again, mostly on Braves miscues in the 4th inning. Gus Koecher led off the inning by striking out, but the strikout pitch got past C Ian Kalata and Koecher was able to sprint down to 1st base and beat out the throw. Koecher then stole 2nd base and reached 3rd on another passed ball. Matt Vold came to the plate and laced a 1-1 fastball into right center field for a single, scoring Koecher, and cutting the Braves lead to 4-2.

Trevor Todd pitched the remainder of the game for the Bandits and surrendered only 4 more hits over 6 innings, and faced only 5 batters over the minimum. Unfortunately the Braves pitched just as well. Benitz needed only 19 pitches to get 6 outs in the 5th and 6th innings. Braves reliever Jacob Kiehl threw the last three innings and picked up the save. Kiehl allowed only 1 hit and 1 walk, while striking out 1.

The Braves and Bandits both played a clean game, with only 1 error being recorded between the two teams, and the evening which was dominated by good pitching. The Bandits play the Braves again at St. Croix Falls on Saturday July 25th.

NOTES

Game Balls

1. Trevor Todd: 8IP, 8H, 4R, 7K, 3BB

2. Gus Koecher/Matt Vold: 2-7, R, RBI SB, BB

3. Michael Chelberg - 0-2, R, BB, SB but scored a run with some aggressive base running and ALMOST made what could have been the game winning play in the 2nd inning with his throw to home plate. Too close to call - glad I wasn't the umpire. Plus some other stellar defense in RF.

Unheralded Hero of the Game: Bandits defense, only 1 error on the evening - a ball that took a goofy hop, but didn't cause any runs to cross the plate.

WOW Play of the Day: When Matt Vold hit a 2-Run HR to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning with Steve Siqueiros on 1st base. - WAIT - that didn't happen...... Its actually when a ball was hit deep to right center field and RF Michael Chelberg started yelling to CF Scott Lindholm, "you got it, you got it." until Chelberg realized, oh I guess he's too far away, I better run. So Chelberg ran...and ran, and dove backwards, left arm stretched out, and somehow caught the ball while appearing to hyper extend his entire body. Chelberg raised the ball up for the umpire to see he had it and then, hearing the calls of his teammates, threw the ball in to the infield where Braves RF Tim Urban was doubled off of 2nd base, as Urban thought the ball had dropped for a hit.

Players Missing in Action:
pretty much all of our regulars were here.....amazing...except for Gagner of course, lets not get crazy.

Away Attendance: 30+