Game Recap - Bandits can't scratch across winning run in loss to Bulldogs

The St Croix River Bandits (2-6, 4-11) took on the Chisago Bulldogs (2 weeks ago, sorry about the non-updated-ness) in a cross river rivalry. The game was scoreless until the 5th inning when the Bandits look a 1-0 lead. Michael Chelberg was hit by a pitch and stole 2nd base. Gus Koecher then hit an RBI double to get Chelberg home. Matt Vold threw the first five innings for the Bandits and had a stellar performance. Vold let up 0 runs, 0 hits, walked 3, and struck out 4.

The Bulldogs came back in the bottom of the 6th inning. The Bandits inserted pitcher Adam Lewis into the game and Bulldogs finally caught some breaks. Cory Berquist singled, followed by an errant pickoff attempt got him all the way around to third base. Berquist scored on a wild pitch. Joey Reed singled with 1 out and stole 2nd base. Reed reached 3rd base after two consecutive walks, then finally scoring on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Henderson. Lewis was able to strike out Joe Johnson to end the inning.

Lewis allowed three consecutive hits to start the 7th inning, but was able to strikeout the next two batters, and was able to pick off a runner sprinting home to steal homeplate during an apparent suicide squeeze play that ran afoul.

The Bandits were inept at the plate versus Chisago pitcher Ryan Picotte. Picotte went the distance, allowing inly 4 hits. Adam Lewis drew a walk with one out in the 9th inning and was pinch ran for by Cory Gebhard. Gebhard stole 2nd base, to get the tying run in scoring position with only 1 out. Picotte settled himself down, striking out Ben Anderson and getting Michael Chelberg to ground out for the final out of the game.

"It was a good game, a non-conference game. We tried to get everyone in and did a pretty good job of that. We only had 4 hits, which isn't going to be enough to win you a baseball game. Their defense made plays, and we had one bad inning that cost us in the end. But we need to hit the ball better, this team isn't built to win many 1-0 baseball games. This is also the 5th game we have lost by 1 run this year. If we win those games our record is 4-4, and overall record is 9-6. We have to start finding ways to win in these close ball games."

***NOTES***

Boxscores Here

Game Balls

1. Matt Vold - 5IP, 0ER, 4K, 3BB : 2-4 batting

2. Gus Koecher - 1-4, 2B, RBI

3. Cory Gebhard - 1-2, 2SB, 1 assist

WOW Play of the Game:

I thought it was with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 8th inning. Adam Lewis throws from the windup and the runner on third base breaks for home. Lewis throws the ball a little off the strike zone, and I'm not even sure the batter tried to bunt the ball. Either way, he pulled back taking the pitch and all catcher Steve Siqueiros has to do is stand up and tag the runner. The runner didn't even try to get back to 3rd base, just slowed down and let Siqueiros apply the tag. Thanks buddy.

Unheralded Hero(es) of the Game:

Team effort on this one. Everyone brought a lot of fans out to Chisago, we had a full roster, it was a great night for baseball, even though we lost by 1....again.

PLAYERS MISSING IN ACTION:

I am officially removing Wampy, Roebuck, Plow, and Niehaus from this list until I see them again!! They are perma MIA.

Trevor Todd - couples shower retreat.

Things Heard On and Off the Field:

Who are you calling a triangle?

I got a vibrator

That curd was a 10-biter