Game Recap - Bandits pullout victory vs. Expos, 6-4.

The St. Croix River Bandits (2-2, 4-6) pulled their conference record back to .500 with a 6-4 victory over the Elmwood Expos (3-6) Saturday at SCF. While rain was an issue, the field management crew decided against playing with the roof overhead, so we played in the elements.

The Bandits took an early lead in the first inning when Bandit's rookie, just recently anointed high school senior, and bonafide football stud, Nick Johnson reached base on an error. Michael VanderPlas singled, and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Steve Siqueiros hit a fly ball to center field with one out, far enough, for Johnson to tag and score easily from third base. Bandits up after 1, 1-0.

The Expos came back with runs of their own in the top of the 2nd inning, taking advantage of a couple errors and a bloop hit. There were two outs in the inning, and Will Ball had walked two batters in between. Expos DH Derrick Bechel hit a soft liner over the head of second baseman, and Bandits rookie, Cory Gebhard to tie the game. The next batter, Mitch Baier, grounded softly to Gebhard at 2nd base, but Gebhard rushed the throw and put it in the dirt. First baseman Jeff Johnson was not able to dig it out, and Justin Hultman scored from 2nd base. Bechel scored when Johnson attempted to gun him down trying to take third base on that same play. The ball skipped before and past third base, giving the Expos a 3-1 lead. The Bandits were able to get out of the inning after an Adam Churchill single put runners on 1st and 3rd. Churchill attempted to steal 2nd base, Bandits catcher Steve Siquieros threw the ball down, but it was cut off by 2B Cory Gebhard. Gebhard saw Baier break for home plate and made a spot on throw back to Siqueiros. Baier tried to blow Siqueiros up at the plate, but its hard to move that rock, and the Expos made their third out of the inning.

The Bandits scored in the bottom of the 2nd. Jeff Johnson reached base via error, and was moved around the bases with two wild pitches. Gebhard scored Johnson with a 1-out ground out to third base. The Expos got that run back in the 4th. A walk, an error and a walk loaded the bases with only one out and the Expos top of the order due up. But the Expos had to settled for an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, as a flyout to center field ended the threat and the inning.

After the 5th inning, Will Ball was lights out, to this point he had given up only three hits but he had walked six. Ball had allowed four runs, but only one of them was earned. The last four innings of the game a switch turned and Ball found his groove. After five, Ball allowed no hits, one walk, and struck out four, facing only one batter over the minimum.

The Bandits would chip away at the Expos lead for the remainder of the game. They got another run back in the 6th inning. Scott Lindholm led off with a single, and was advanced over to third base via walk to Kyle Kahl and bunt/ground-out from Gebhard. Lindholm scored on the Bandits 2nd sacrifice fly of the day, this time off the bat of Michael Chelberg, cutting the lead to 4-3.

The Bandits were back at it next inning. The Expos brought in relief pitcher Jared Wood, and the Bandits saw him well. VanderPlas and Siqueiros started the inning off with walks, and were balked over by pitcher Wood, after he neglected to come set in his stretch delivery. After Brian Jacobson popped out to third base, first baseman Jeff Johnson hit an RBI single to score VanderPlas and tie the game. The Bandits could not capitalize on 1st and 3rd with one out and left the inning tied at four a piece.

The Bandits captured victory in the bottom of the 8th inning. Gebhard walked and Chelberg followed with a single. Nick Johnson sac bunted the runners over for the first out. Michael VanderPlas the hit a first pitch line drive double to left center, scoring both Gebhard and Chelberg, giving the Bandits a 6-4 lead and win.

"It was a good hard fought game today," stated Bandits GM Jim Rochford. "Will Ball pitched a great game, especially after he settled down and was dealing strikes. We dug ourselves into a hole early, but we climbed out...just in time. We put six runs up on the board today but we didn't hit the snot out of the ball, probably just six or seven hits, and we still left a bunch of guys hanging on 2nd and 3rd. That is something we are going to have to work on as the season progresses - getting singles when guys are on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Good game today - much better than last week's aberration."

***NOTES***

Box Scores found here

Game Balls

1. Will Ball - Win, 9IP, 3H, 4R, 1ER, 7BB, 9K

2. Michael VanderPlas - 2-4, R, 2B, BB, 2RBI

3 (tie). Michael Chelberg - 1-3, R, BB, SAC FLY RBI, SB - sliding catch
Steve Siqueiros - 1-3, SAC FLY RBI, - 2 caught stealing and rocking behind the plate

Unheralded Hero(es) of the Game: To Light Drizzle, thank you for not becoming All-Out
Rain, we needed time to win, thanks for letting us have it.

Things Heard Around the Diamond:

After the first inning, -Only 18 outs left to go

Yeah, the wedding isn't until 5pm, so I was like, I can still play...

I'm glad I didn't bring my daughter to this game

You're here early than I thought, did you skip a section of your ACT -response- I probably would have done better if I did.

Players Missing in Action
Adam Lewis - promises he'll be there tomorrow
Gus Koecher - is on the 15 disabled list, scheduled to come off tomorrow, Bandits ponder waiving Jack Werner and designating him for assignment.
Matt Vold - is breaking my 1st rule of travel - Never drive anywhere over an hour where you will spend LESS time at your location than the time it takes to get there and back.
Tim Wampfler - is breaking in some mares...then is going to ride some horses after that
Curtis Roebuck - is busy making bank
Trevor Todd - is hopefully going to wake up at 4:30am tomorrow morning so he can drive back for the game that he is pitching. Let's also hope that he is staying sober and alert..

GAMEDAY: Tomorrow, Sunday June 13th vs Osceola 1pm at SCF.