Beach Bums Drop Pitcher's Duel
Published on July 3, 2007 under Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - The Traverse City Beach Bums fell 3-2 to the Kalamazoo Kings in a pitcher's duel at Wuerfel Park where 6,259 fans were on hand for a Veteran's Night celebration.
The Kings grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning as All-Star Keith Brachold connected on his team leading ninth homer clearing the fence in center off of Robbie McClellan, who made his eighth start for the Beach Bums. McClellan rebounded to strike out the side around the homer. Kalamazoo added another run in the second inning following a double and a single to start the inning.
Robbie McClellan settled into a groove following the second but was still hit with the loss. McClellan was still on a pitch count and did not allow a run after the second but went only five innings. He allowed the two runs on only four hits to go with a pair of walks and a season high eight strikeouts. Jack Nelson relieved McClellan and tossed three innings, leaving a runner stranded at third in his final inning of work. He was chosen as the Player of the Game following his outing.
The Beach Bums were able to cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the sixth as they finally got to Sam Mann. Zack Kalter reached on an error and went to second. Curtis Ledbetter came through with an RBI single with two outs to score Kalter and trim the deficit to 2-1.
The Kings were able to add an unearned insurance run in the ninth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Closer John Sullivan came on and struggled in the bottom of the ninth, walking the bases loaded around two strikeouts as Sam Orr, Jeff Brown, and Steve Young drew walks. Young was making his first start of the season after being activated from injured reserve on Saturday. Zack Kalter drew a bases loaded walk to pull Traverse City within 3-2 but Sullivan was able to get the final out.
The American flag jerseys worn by the Beach Bums were auctioned off following the contest and over $6,000 was raised to be donated to the American Red Cross.
The Beach Bums will hit the road for three games at East Division leading Washington, beginning at 7:05 pm tomorrow night in Pennsylvania. RHP Tony Casoli (3-4, 6.75) will make the start for the Beach Bums in the opener. He will be opposed by RHP Aaron Ledbetter (2-0, 2.84) for the Wild Things in a matchup of two of the premier pitchers in Frontier League history. Tim Calderwood will broadcast the game on The Fox FM starting with the Beach Bums On Deck Show at 6:45 pm.
Frontier League Stories from July 3, 2007
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- Beach Bums Drop Pitcher's Duel - Traverse City Beach Bums
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- Five Miners Make Frontier League All-Star Game - Southern Illinois Miners
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- Sliders' Zac Cline Named Frontier League All-Star - Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti
- Ledbetter and Holmes Chosen to Represent Beach Bums in the Frontier League All-Star Game - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Top of the Order Leads Freedom to 9-3 Victory - OSC Original by Andrew Kappes
- Otters Lose Sixth Straight - Evansville Otters
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