Game Recap - Bandits drop second straight game by 1 run.

The St. Croix River Bandits (0-0, 0-2) were toppled again by rival Minnesota powerhouse: The Isanti Redbirds. The Bandits are 1-4 in their four year history against the Redbirds, although this game was much closer than most.

The Redbirds pitched a bevy of arms on Sunday, starting with ace Wade Reichmann. Reichmann was 8-2 for the Redbirds in 2009 with a miniscule ERA of 0.72 and 101 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings pitched. Reichman plowed through the Bandits lineup - striking out 4 in three innings pitched, and not allowing a single baserunner.

The Bandits finally got a hit in the 5th inning off of pitcher Charlie Zak. 2B Michael VanderPlas knocked a 1-out 1-1 fastball up the middle for a single. SS Kyle Kahl then walked. After a RF Will Ball strikeout, LF Tim Wampfler hit an infield single, allowing all runners to advance a base. VanderPlas was able to score on a wild pitch, giving the Bandits a 1-0 lead after 5 innings.

Bandits pitcher Trevor Todd started on the mound against the potent Redbirds lineup that features 2009 St. Paul Saint and 2009 MIAC Player of the Year Kyle Johnson. Todd had scattered 4 hits through five innings pitched against the Redbirds, striking out 4, and picking off 2 baserunners. Todd finally ran into trouble in the top of the 6th inning, after the Bandits took a 1-0 lead. Redbird superstar Packy Lind led the inning off with a single, and was sac bunted over to second base. Todd induced Kyle Johnson to ground out to 2nd base - allowing Lind to move over to third with two outs. The Redbirds were able to get a run back in the exact manner the Bandits had scored, on a passed ball/wild pitch - scoring Lind from third base. Redbird 3B Tyler Schaff hit a 2-out single to give the Redbirds another threat in the 6th inning. After a Trevor Todd balk to advance Schaff to 2nd base - relief pitcher Adam West found contact on a 1-2 count, and was able to drop the ball down the left field line for a double, scoring Schaff and giving the Redbirds a 2-1 lead.

The Bandits tried to rally back in the bottom of the 6th. Red-hot 3B Michael Chelberg hit his third single in two games, to lead off the inning. Trevor Todd fielded into a possible double play, but Chelberg was able to break it up at 2nd base. DH Brian Jacobson grounded into a out, but advanced Todd to 2nd base. Todd was then able to advance to 3rd base on a wild pitch - however was stranded their by and inning ending strike out.

The Bandits were stiffled after the 6th - getting only one more baserunner in the last three innings. Trevor Todd pitched seven total innings, giving up only 2 runs, and scattering 8 hits. Will Ball came on in relief and pitched 2 scoreless innings.

The Bandits drop to 0-2 on the year - with a run differential of only -2 runs over the 2 games. P/Coach Jim Rochford had this to say after the game. "This was a really well played, hard fought game by both teams. Much better than yesterday. As much as losing teams hate the term "moral" victories, this defintely was one. This team was 26-7 last season and their core roster was here today. We played them very well, didn't have a fielding error for the 2nd straight game, and Trevor went out and pitched tremendously. Once we get our bats going a little bit, we will be in great shape for our conference schedule."

***NOTES***

Boxscores Found Here

Game Balls

1) Trevor Todd - 7IP, 8H, 2ER, 6K

2) Michael VanderPlas - 1-3, R

3) Team Defense - 0 errors for 2nd straight game.

Unheralded Hero(es) of the Game: To Scott Lindholm - whom the day after getting plunked in the face with a baseball was out playing CF for the Bandits with one good eye. And to Redbird BJ Samuelson, a known Bandits killer, for having too good of a good time the night prior to the game.

WOW play of the Day: Tim Wampfler's slip and slide butt dive catch in right field to steal a single away from CF Eric Rysdam, or Trevor Todd's uncanny ability to catch baseunners on first base.

Things heard on and off the Diamond:

"I'm glad Will is here to say the things that I am thinking but haven't said yet, then I can look at him like he is the weird one."
"Just put the back-up catcher's mask on and shag some flyballs - you'll be fine"
"That swing was terrible, I wonder if he even knows he's playing a baseball game right now, just terrible..."

Players Missing in Action:

Curtis Roebuck - at daughter's first birthday party.....reasonable excuse
HS Posse - ineligible until June X, 2010....reasonable excuse
Adam Lewis - starting new job as assistant railroad spike quality control director....fair excuse
Plow - sleeping....poor excuse Plow...poor!

Next Game is Sunday May 9th vs. the Minneapolis Cubs.