Game Recap - Bandits Escape with a Victory at Hager City.

The St. Croix River Bandits dominating performance turned into a thriller July 11th vs. the Hager City Skeeters, and that with everyone's favorite HC establishment closed for the day of rest.

The Bandits struck first in the top of the third inning. Gus Koecher and Cory Gebhard reached on a single and a walk with one out in the inning. Matt Vold and Steve Siqueiros followed with RBI-singles. Adam Lewis then grounded into a fielder's choice, but the defense could not get the speedy Vold at third base - loading the bases with only one out. The Skeeters were able to get out of the jam by striking out both Kyle Kahl and Scott Lindholm to end the inning. The Bandits managed four hits over the next three innings, but could not get runs across the plate.

The Skeeters were having an equally difficult time at the dish. Trevor Todd, the Bandits starting pitcher, pitched seven strong innings allowing only four hits and scattering five walks, while picking off three.

The Bandits added another run in the top of the seventh and top of the eighth to increase their lead to 4-0.

As the eighth inning started the winds started picking up and the sky darkened. Relief pitcher Matt Vold, pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, putting the Skeeters down in order. Vold remained in the game in the ninth inning, looking to pick up the two-inning save. Light rain started to fall and the wind started to gust hard. The only sounds you could hear was the wind and yellow dog whining in the dugout.

Vold started the inning by clipping the lead-off batter, Henry Jaeger, in the kneecap. Jaegar then stole second base and Tyler Regnier singled, getting Jaeger to third base. Vold threw a wild pitch, scoring Jaeger, and walked Elliot Foley, putting runners on second and first with no outs. By now the winds were really whipping and the rain was coming down harder - the sky was near black. Vold's 1-1 pitch the Chase Melstrom was skied to left field.....and never came down. Melstrom hit a game-tying 3-run homerun in the bottom of the ninth.

The Bandits opted to take Vold out of the game and insert Adam Lewis. The rain started coming down extremely hard, to the point where the game can no longer continue...Lewis gets in one pitch on the batter, and the game is paused for a rain delay.

The game picked up about an hour later, after much conversation about what we were going to do, and field maintenance-removing the water from the mound and batters box.

We jump back into action with the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth with no outs. Lewis induces Frazier to ground out. But then gives up back to back singles to Lance Murphy and Chad Melstrom. Lewis strikes out Kyle Lemler for the second out but then walks Ross Sweig to load the bases. Lewis then reached a full count on Jaeger - where a walk would end the game. Jaeger fouled off about three full-count pitches before finally swinging and missing on strike three, ending the Bandits mini-meltdown.

Mike VanderPlas led the tenth inning off with a walk, and bas sacrificed over by Will Ball. VanderPlas reached third on a passed ball during Gus Koecher's plate appearance where was was hit by a pitch. With runners on third and first the Bandits could not convert, popping out in the infield for their next two outs ending the threat.

The Bandits jumped back in the top of the 11th inning. Siqueiros struck out to start the inning, and Adam Lewis walked. Kyle Kahl then struck out. Adam Lewis reached second base on a failed pickoff attempt during Scott Lindholm's at bat. Lindholm hit a sharp single, getting Lewis to third base. Lewis was able to score on a wild pitch, advancing Lindholm to second. Michael VanderPlas then lit up the scorebook with the rare strikeout-wild pitch, reaching first base, and getting Lindholm to third. Will Ball was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gus Koecher opened the game up with a two-run RBI single, giving the Bandits a 7-4, which they would leave the inning with.

Lewis slammed the door on the Skeeters in the bottom of the 11th, striking out the side.

This was a game that was somehow close but not, the Skeeters battled throughout, but only showed glimpses of offense in the torrential storm that brewed in the bottom of the ninth, and when the storm passed, so did their presence at the plate. Twelve hits on the day for the Bandits and eights walks. The Banditos are still leaving too many men on base. Outstanding pitching performance by Trevor Todd who pads his pickoff numbers by three.

***NOTES***

Box Scores Here

Game Balls
so many to choose from - some good performance today
1. Gus Koecher: 3-6, R, 2B, HBP, 3RBI

2. Trevor Todd: 7IP, 4H, 8K, 5BB, oR

3. Adam Lewis: 3IP, 2H, 6K, 1BB, oR

WoW Play of the Game:

Besides the awful game-tying HR...there was this: Bottom of the 4th inning - Skeeters Tyler Regnier singles and steals second and third base. Chase Melstrom hits a 1-out sacrifice fly to RF Will Ball. Regnier readies for a tag as Ball gets set to catch the flyball. He catches the flyball and Regnier bolts home. Ball unleashes the power of a sonic boom on his throw to the plate, delivering a perfect strike to catcher Steve Siqueiros, to steal a run away from the Skeeters, and get the third out of the inning.

Unheralded Hero(es) of the Game:

To Jim Rochford's heroic efforts in finding nourishment for his depleted (both morally and physically) team during the rain delay, and then following that up with some casual fashion display as the third base coach...."just trying to keep everyone loose," he says.

Things heard on and off the Diamond

Lots and lots of W-LITE music

Many complaints about a certain somewhere not being open.

The following players names: Matt Voit, Cole Kahl, Gus Kohler, Adam White, Cory Gerhart, Michael Va....Va.....(silence)...

Players Missing in Action

Michael Chelberg - I can't remember why you weren't here! I think it was rabies.
Nick Johnson - Football obligations