Game Recap - Bandits lose heartbreaker to Islanders, 9-8 - walk-off style

The St. Croix River Bandits (0-0, 0-1) traveled to Cumberland on Saturday and had an early lead over the Islanders but couldn't hold on. Jim Rochford started on the mound for the Bandits and was given a quick 4-0 lead after the first inning. The Bandits led off the season with 3 consecutive walks to load the bases. Catcher Brian Jacobson came through with a 1-out single to left-center field, scoring both CF Scott Lindholm and 3B Michael Chelberg. 1B Trevor Todd scored on an error, and 2B Curtis Roebuck slapped a ball to right field for a single, that scored Brian Jacobson/CR Tim Wampfler.

Rochford was adequate for the first 5 innings of the game, allowing 5 hits, 4 walks, 2 runs (both earned) and striking out 5. The Bandits had tacked on a single run each inning, from inning 2 thru 4 and were leading 7-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Rochford fatigued, and struggled to get the ball in the strike zone. Rochford issued 6 walks, 3 hits, and a hit batsmen over the 6th and 7th inning - giving up 4 runs. Rochford was finally pulled after the seventh inning in favor of Curtis Roebuck - going into the bottom of the 8th with an 8-6 lead.

Backtracking a little... the Bandits, after scoring 7 runs in the first 4 innings, were all but stymied for the final five innings of the game. In the top of the 7th inning, clubhouse leader Scott Lindholm was looking for a breaking ball to drive. Unfortunately the pitch never broke, and Lindholm never ducked....The ball caught Lindholm near square in the eye/nose and would later be determined to be a microfracture of the high up bridge of the nose. Lindholm was forced to leave the game - which would have been much more convenient if the Bandits weren't sporting only 1 bench player and a catcher/DH combo that both only work from behind the plate. Lindholm would be listed as day to day.

Roebuck got into a jam in the bottom of the eighth inning with runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. Due to the aforementioned injury - catcher Brian Jacobson was relegated to 3B duty because of a myriad of defensive shifts. The cat-like Jacobson was able to haul down a 1-out line drive and hurl the ball back over to 2nd base to double up the shocked baserunner to end the eighth inning.

Roebuck was not so lucky in the bottom of the ninth. Cumberland led off the inning with a single and a walk. Former bandit John Peterson then sac bunted the runners over. Roebuck then hit a batter in a 2-2 count to load the bases. Roebuck struggled to find the strike zone, like most other pitchers that afternoon, walking the next 2 batters - each on full counts. The Islanders then hit a walk off single to end the game. Final score, 9-8 Islanders, 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth and 7 runs in the last 4 innings to cap of the game.

"This was a tough loss for us," noted pitcher Jim Rochford. "We had a big lead early, and Robes and I couldn't nail it down. It happens and we just have to move on to the next game."

***NOTES***
Boxscores Here

Game Balls

1. Brian Jacobson - for breaking out that baseball body for another season, catching, playing 3B, and going 3-5 with 3 RBI.

2. Michael Chelberg - starting off the year 2-2 with 3 walks and 2 runs scored.

3. Team DEFENSE - no errors today boys, way to start the season on the field.

Unheralded Hero of the Day: Tim Wampfler - without you coming to be the 11th man we would have been in a serious bind when Lindholm crumpled.

(honorable mention: Bandits Mobile - you still keep chugging along!)

WOW play of the day: I would have said Brian Jacobson hitting the ball 200 mph....straight at the shortstop for an inning ending double play...but anytime you hear a guy tell you that he thinks he swallowed some of his own nose-bone fragments while sitting at the doctor's office - thats gotta win...

Things heard on and off the Diamond....

"Are we the home team?"
"That F#$%^@g doctor is a homo.."
"Atleast let me swallow..."
and an in depth conversation about another man's unfortunate reproductive part's nightmare...

PMIA (players missing in action)

Adam Lewis - got a new job at railroad company
Jeff "Plow" Johnson - fish/sleep/avoid/cry/ing
The High School Posse - ineligible - season hasnt ended yet
Michael VanderPlas - rallying....really....

Next game is Sunday versus Isanti at SCF