Flyers fall in walk-off fashion to Gary

Published on June 9, 2008 under Northern League (NL)
Schaumburg Flyers News Release


Gary, IN - The Schaumburg Flyers had played a great game all night. Fighting back from a two run deficit early and a three run deficit late, Schaumburg carried an 8-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. They left that inning defeated after a two-run walk-off home run by Gary SouthShore RailCats 3B Tanner Townsend, falling to the home club by a 9-8 total.

After going down two runs early, Schaumburg (9-15) was sparked by a play at the plate. SS Mark Haske (3-for-5, 3 R) tagged up on a popout in foul ground by 1B Peanut Williams (0-for-4, RBI), and leveled RailCats C Brett Wallace on the play at the dish. The collision knocked the ball loose from Wallace's mitt, and scored the first Flyer run. From there, the Flyers plated three more runs on three consecutive hits to make it a 4-2 lead in their favor.

Gary (11-12) refused to go away quietly in this game, as they put up five runs in their half of the fifth inning to lead 7-4. At that point, Flyers starter Steve Shippey was in line for his third loss of the year, but his teammates fought back to get him off the hook. In the top of the sixth, Williams reached on an error and RF Kurt Crowell (3-for-5, RBI) had his third hit of the game to put men on first and second with nobody out. Crowell had already hit two doubles and plated a run in his first two at-bats. Then DH Chris Gaskin (2-for-4, 2 RBI) laced a double to make it a 7-5 deficit, and C Ryan Luther (1-for-4, 2 RBI) hit an RBI groundout to make it a one-run deficit at 7-6.

Mark Haske was the catalyst again in the seventh inning. His leadoff triple put him on third base with nobody out, and after LF Jermaine Allensworth (2-for-4, 1 R) was hit by a pitch, 3B Vince Harrison (0-for-4, 2 RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Haske and tie the game at 7-7.

The Flyers even scrapped in the top of the ninth to take the late lead. Haske again got on base first with an extra base hit - this time a double - and Allensworth reached on an error to put men on first and third with one out. Then a swinging bunt by Harrison down the first base line scored Haske from third to give Schaumburg the 8-7 lead.

That meant it was time for Schaumburg closer Jim Popp (1-2) to enter the game. He gave up a leadoff hit to Gary LF Mike Reese (2-for-5, RBI) to make it a man on first with nobody out for the RailCats. That's when Tanner Townsend (3-for-5, 4 RBI) came up. He took his first two pitches for balls . . . and the third he put over the fence. The home run was to the deepest part of U.S. Steel Yard in left-center field, and it gave his team the improbable 9-8 victory. RailCats reliever Nate Hoelscher (1-0) was in line for the loss, but he ended up the victor with Townsend's dramatics.

So now Schaumburg will use the final game of its road trip to try and even the two-game series with Gary tomorrow night at U.S. Steel Yard. RHP Matt Varner (0-3, 9.35) will take the ball to start for the Flyers, while the RailCats will assign their starting duties to LHP Jeremy Plexico (2-2, 4.50). Every pitch, hit and play will come to you live from the ballpark starting at 7:00 p.m. on flyersbaseball.com.

The Schaumburg Flyers are a member of the Northern League, a 6-team Independent Professional Baseball League established in 1993. Opening Day is May 15th, 2008. For ticket information call (847) 891-BALL (2255) or visit www.flyersbaseball.com

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Northern League Stories from June 9, 2008


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