Beach Bums Rally Past Freedom
August 2, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - The Traverse City Beach Bums overcame an early 4-0 deficit to top the Florence Freedom 13-6 on Family Night at Wuerfel Park.
Florence plated four first inning runs off of Beach Bums starter Jason Kiley to take the early lead. The game's first batter, Tim Grogan, homered to right on the second pitch. Justin Pickett and John Welch also drove in runs with singles and Zach Goldberg doubled in the fourth run.
The Beach Bums were able to tie the game in the second inning against Florence starter Andy Clark. John Alonso doubled to begin the inning and Andrew Barbaro followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Mike Victor drove in the first run, depositing a 1-0 pitch into left-center. Anthony D'Alfonso followed with a single up the middle to cut the lead to 4-2. Mike Victor crossed the plate on a wild pitch, and Brad Miller lifted a sacrifice fly to knot the score.
Florence took a momentary lead at 5-4 in the fourth on a double by Tim Grogan. Jason Kiley did not escape the inning, giving way to Ryan Kruszka. The bullpen allowed just one hit and an unearned run the rest of the way as Traverse City took a 7-4 lead when Brian Lapin belted a three-run homer down the leftfield line in the bottom of the inning with one out.
Four runs crossed the plate in the sixth against three different Florence hurlers. Brian Lapin, Andrew Franco, and Brad Miller all singled to load the bases. Mike Epping drew a bases loaded walk with one out and Sean Hoorelbeke plated a run with a single. An error allowed Mike Epping and Sean Hoorelbeke to score. Brad Miller drove in Brian Lapin in the seventh with a single after Lapin tripled and Andrew Franco brought in Andrew Barbaro with a single in the eighth.
Traverse City had 15 hits in the game, the most at home this season as every member of the lineup except one reached base. Brian Lapin fell a double shy of the cycle as he singled, homered, tripled, scored three runs, and drove in three to go with a sacrifice bunt in a 3-for-4 showing. Brad Miller had three hits and drove in a pair while Mike Victor, Anthony D'Alfonso, and Andrew Franco had two hits each.
Ryan Kruszka recorded the win, his first as a professional. Kruszka tossed 1.2 innings and did not allow a hit. Jared Locke threw three scoreless frames and Nick Pepper, a third year Beach Bum who was signed on Friday, made a triumphant return by throwing the ninth.
The Beach Bums will conclude the series with the Freedom tomorrow night with a 7:05pm contest. RHP Kevin Reese (6-4, 5.07) takes the ball as the Beach Bums go for the sweep. Florence will counter with LHP Chuck Tiffany (0-0, 0.00) who will make his first start.
Sandbox Bits
Andrew Barbaro reached base four times, drawing three walks in addition to a single; He scored three runs and has reached base 13 times in the last four contests
Andrew Franco reached base four times in the game posting a pair of hit in addition to a walk and a hit by pitch
John Alonso was ejected in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes
The contest was the longest of the season for the Beach Bums at 3:21; The previous long was a 3:20 game, which has been done twice this season
Frontier League Stories from August 2, 2009
- Otters Sweep Doubleheader for Fourth Straight Win - Evansville Otters
- Beach Bums Rally Past Freedom - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Bolts Drop a Pair - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Miners Walk Off with Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- RiverHawks Take Third in a Row from River City - Rockford RiverHawks
- Sloppy Sunday Ends in Freedom Loss - Florence Y'alls
- Lake Erie Downs Kings - Lake Erie Crushers
- Sliders Survive 'Slugfest' - Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti
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