Game Recaps: A Weekend With Hagar City....Gone Wrong

The St. Croix River Bandits (2-11 conf, 3-17 overall) dropped a couple of games to the Hagar City Skeeters this weekend. The Bandits and Skeeters played a 7 inning non-conference game on Saturday at Hagar City and a conference game vs. Hagar City at home on Sunday.

So what happens when a team that's struggling to pitch the ball meets a team that's struggling to hit the ball? The answer is the Skeeters vs. the River Bandits.

Game 1. (Non Conference) Hagar City 6 - St. Croix River Bandits 4

Skeeters walks/HBP allowed/errors: 12
Bandits Hits: 5

The Skeeters were able to get 9 hits off of starting pitcher Will Ball, who struggled with control the entire day. However, even though Ball allowed 9 hits, and walked/plunked a combined 9 batters, only 3 of his 6 runs were earned, due to some shoddy defensive play. The Bandits offense did not come to the rescue, managing only 5 hits in 27 at bats, 2 by C Steve Siqueiros. The Bandits also stranded 3 runners in the 6th inning, having the bases loaded and 0 outs, and couldn't put the ball in play.

Game 2. (Conference) Hagar City 8 - St. Croix River Bandits 4

Skeeters walks/HBP allowed/errors: 14
Bandits Hits: 4

The Bandits gave up an early lead in the first inning as Skeeters lead off batter Lance Murphy singled to left field, stole 2nd base, and reached 3rd on a wild pitch. Bandits starting pitcher Jim Rochford, coming off of 2 consecutive quality conference starts (15.2 IP, 3ER), just didn't have his stuff. Rochford walked Elliot Foley. Rochford induced 3-hitter Mike Berg to hit into a possible double play grounder to 3rd base, but 3rd baseman Jeff Johnson's throw sailed on him, and into right field. Muphy was able to score. Rochford was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.

The Bandits tied the game in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Kyle Kahl led the inning off with a walk, and Jeff Johnson was able to single to right, but the ball was misplayed by the right fielder when getting the ball in. Kahl was able to reach 3rd base, however, then-3rd base coach Scott Lindholm sent Kahl home, as the infield/outfield still did not have control of the ball, and he was able to score. Bandits 1 - Skeeters 1

The Skeeters came roaring back in the top of the 3rd inning. Rochford gave up 3 straight singles to the 1-2-3 hitters, and let up a run before getting an out. Mike Maves singled softly to LF to load the bases with one out. Rochford walked Jeremy Werner on 4 straight pitches, walking in a run from 3rd base. The next batter, Cory Bratholl hit the first pitch he saw right at 3rd baseman Jeff Johnson, who threw home to Steve Siqueiros for the 2nd out of the inning, then Siqueiros was able to relay the ball down to 1st base to beat the runner for an inning ending doubleplay. Skeeters led 3-1.

The Skeeters scored again in the top of the 5th inning. Three runs in total, coming off of 3 hits and an error. Cory Bratholl got his revenge, as he crushed a ball to deep left center field with the bases loaded, and all three runners scored. Bratholl, however, was only make it to 1st base, making that hit one BIG single. Skeeters up 6-1.

The Bandits got two back in the bottom of the 5th inning. Skeeters pitcher Brady Brenner walked the bases loaded and with 1 out Kyle Kahl hit a single to centerfield scoring Lindholm and Todd. However, even with runners 1st and 3rd and one out, the Bandits were not able to score another run. Skeeters up 6-3.

Rochford came out to pitch the top of the 6th, which turned out to be a bad idea. Rochford let up a double to lead off hitter Lance Murphy and another single to Elliot Foley. Rochford was then lifted for Trevor Todd. Rochford's final line: 5IP, 11H, 8R, 6ER was far from ideal - after looking at the stat sheet Rochford's only comment was, "Well atleast the 4 thru 9 hitters were 4-17 against me - too bad those first three guys were 7-10." Trevor Todd relieved all 4 innings, and allowed only 1 hit, walked 2, and hit 2 batters. Both runners that Todd inherited did score in the 6th inning, and were charged to Rochford. Skeeters up 8-3.

Skeeters pitcher Brady Brenner settled down in the last 4 innings, walking only 4 Bandits, and letting up only 1 hit. Trevor Todd was able to score in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Bandits as he walked and Kyle Kahl's single got him over to 3rd base. Todd scored when Skeeters catcher Mike Maves tried to pick off Kyle Kahl from first base with 2 outs in the ninth inning. Kahl was caught in a run down but was able to escape back to first when the Skeeters infield mis-handled the ball, allowing Todd to reach home. Final Score Skeeters 8, Bandits 4.

The Bandits have managed only 12 hits in their last 3 games since the 4th of July break and if they hope to win any of their 3 remaining conference games, that number must improve - by a lot!

NOTES

Game 1

Game Balls:
1-3. Steve Siqueiros 2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI

Unheraled Hero of the Day: Trevor Todd went 0-0 in 4 plate appearances, walking twice, getting hit by a pitch and hitting a sacrifice bunt. Very impressive Trevor

WOW Play of the Day: Perhaps something to do with defense, and flying as high as a kite, and sitting around on the field, and someone's dad yelling at all the little kids on the field. For you Bandits who were there, you know what I mean.

Players Missing in Action: just about everyone, we even had to recuit some kid from Lewis, WI named Bubba Smith, except he isn't the one that's 6'7" 260lbs and played pro football.

Estimated Away Attendance: 0 - for sure and a good thing

Game 2:

Game Balls

1. Kyle Kahl 2-4, R, 2RBI, BB, 5 assists

2. Trevor Todd 4IP, 1H, 2BB, 2HBP, 5K also 0-2 at the dish 2R, 3BB

3. Scott Lindholm 1-2, R, 2BB, HBP

Unheralded Player of the Day: Michael VanderPlas. Vandy played a phenonemal 2nd base, the first time in his Bandits career in the infield. In 3 innings, Vandy had 3 assists and a putout, no errors and 1 amazing play where he hustled to the ball, threw across his body, and made the out at first just in time.

WOW Play of the Day: I'd like to say its where pitcher Jim Rochford catches a line drive off the bat of Skeeter DH Tyler Frazier and then, not knowing if the ball had bounced or not, and Frazier taking off towards 1st base, Rochford throws /spikes the ball into the ground 10 feet wide of first base, then looks to the umpire and says, "Hey I caught that, it didn't hit the ground!....right??" But the happening of the day is when a friendly dispute about infield defensive positioning almost came to fisticuffs.

Players Missing in Action:
Matt Vold - sunday football camp, fun times....
Gus Koecher - trapping fish
Curtis Roebuck - if Curtis Roebuck "happens" in Vegas, does that mean he has to stay there?
Adam Lewis - stood us UP! I am crank calling you for the next 10 days LEW!

Estimated Attendance: 30-50