Bums Headed to the Finals
September 12, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
Normal, IL The Traverse City Beach Bums are headed to the 2015 Frontier League Finals after finishing a two game sweep of the Normal Cornbelters with a 6-5 win Saturday. The Beach Bums will be making their second trip to the Finals and first since 2010 against an opponent that is still to be determined.
The River City Rascals and Southern Illinois Miners will play a decisive third game of their semi-final series Sunday night. The winner of that series will determine the schedule for the Best-of-Five Finals which will start Tuesday night at a TBD location.
On Saturday, the Beach Bums raced out to a 4-0 lead over the first inning and a half. In the top of the first, with two outs, Jay Austin singles and Jose Vargas walked. Brandon Jacobs followed with a two run double and Yazy Arbelo ripped a RBI single to give the Beach Bums a 3-0 lead.
Alex Tomasovich came through with a two out RBI single in the second to make the score 4-0.
In the bottom of the second, Normal loaded the bases with one out but starter Michael Shreves limited the damage to only a single run.
Still, Normal starter Mike Schweiss settled down, retiring 10 straight Beach Bums at one point, and while he did that the Cornbelters rallied. Pat McKenna's two-out RBI single in the third cut the lead to 4-2.
In the fifth, Mark Micowski and Santiago Chirino singled to start the inning. Out of the bullpen came Dom Vattuone who allowed a RBI single to Aaron Dudley making it 4-3. Vattuone then got a strikeout and pop out, but allowed a game tying single to Sam Judah leveling the score 4-4.
The Beach Bums were wounded, but not sliced, and in the sixth answered. The Beach Bums loaded the bases with two outs off reliever Cole Brocker. Sam Bumpers hit a soft liner in back of second, that was stopped by the shortstop McKenna. One run would score, putting the Beach Bums back in front 5-4.
Then in the eighth, Jacobs' solo homer that just cleared the centerfield wall extended the lead to 6-4.
All the while, the bullpen was clutch. Alex Phillips fired a scoreless sixth and seventh, and Chuck Ghysels worked a scoreless eighth.
The Beach Bums took the lead into the bottom of the ninth and Ghysels would quickly get the first two outs. However, he walked Dudley. Again the Beach Bums went to the bullpen and called in Bret Dahlson. He'd walk McKenna putting the tying run on and winning run the chance to hit.
Richard Lucas kept the rallying going with a RBI single to left, trimming the lead to 6-5. With two outs, the tying run was at second and winning run at first, but Dahlson would get Sam Judah to ground out back to the mound ending the game.
Vattuone earned the win in relief, with Dahlson collecting the same. Schweiss suffered the loss for Normal.
The Beach Bums never trailed in the two-game series, and finish the season winning seven of eight against the Cornbelters. Going back to the regular season, the Beach Bums have won six straight games overall, including all three of their games in the postseason.
All games are broadcast live on 98.1 The Bear
The Beach Bums business offices are open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday and game day Saturdays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. In addition to special promotions, ticket specials and live music, everyone is invited to participate in the new Wuerfel Park Farmers & Flea Market open every Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm through October 10th. Spaces remain for interested vendors with open registration held every Saturday morning starting at 7:00 am.
For more information, please call the offices at 1-231-943-0100 or visit tcbeachbums.com.
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Frontier League Stories from September 12, 2015
- Bums Headed to the Finals - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Miners Stumble in Game Two as Division Series Evened - Southern Illinois Miners
- CornBelters Rallies Fall Short in Season-Ending Loss - Normal CornBelters
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