Beach Bums Win Second Straight

June 19, 2007 - Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release


SAUGET, IL - The Traverse City Beach Bums opened a 4-0 lead and hung on to defeat the Gateway Grizzlies 6-5 in a back and forth affair at Gateway's GCS Ballpark in the opener of a six-game roadtrip in suburban St. Louis.

The Beach Bums wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, plating two runs in the top of the first inning off of Gateway starter Erik Dessau. Justin Holmes doubled off the wall in center field with one away and Jeff Vincent followed by tripling into the left center gap to make it a 1-0 lead. Curtis Ledbetter followed with a single to plate Vincent and the Beach Bums led 2-0 before starting pitcher Ryan Gehring even climbed the hill.

Sam Orr recorded the first hit since the first inning by connecting on his first homer of the season in the top of the fifth. Orr drove a 3-1 offering from Dessau over the fence in right center to give the Beach Bums a 3-0 edge. Another homer in the top of the sixth spotted the Beach Bums a 4-0 lead as Zack Kalter hooked one down the right field line for his first homer of the season.

With the dimensions at GCS Ballpark, no lead is safe. Gehring found out the hard way in the bottom of the sixth as Gateway got a leadoff homer from Manny Paula. After an out and two walks, Mike Breyman tied it with an opposite field homer over the fence in left to knot the game at four apiece.

Traverse City took a momentary lead in the eighth as R.C. Dickerson singled up the middle leading off against Gateway reliever James Hertel. A passed ball moved Dickerson to second and he advanced to third on a flyout. Justin Holmes grounded an offering between the legs of Gateway third baseman Manny Paula scoring Dickerson to give the Beach Bums a 5-4 edge.

In the bottom of the inning Gateway again tied it off of Gehring as Dustin Roberts connected on a one-out homer to left to knot the score at five and end Gehring's night. Gehring pitched 7.1 innings and did not factor in the decision. He allowed only five hits while striking out a season high nine. Jeff Williams relieved him and recorded his third win out of the bullpen as the Beach Bums came through again in the ninth.

With one away Gateway reliever James Hertel hit Lance Koenig with a pitch. Koenig scored from first as Sam Orr slapped an opposite field double down the left field line to give the Beach Bums a 6-5 lead. Willaims walked the first man in the ninth but recorded two straight outs including a diving catch off the mound on a bunt attempt that earned him defensive Player of the Game honors. Nick Pepper came on and struck out Manny Paula looking to end the game and preserve the win with his third save.

Sam Orr earned Player of the Game honors with a three-hit performance. All three hits went for extra bases as he homered for the first time this season and connected on two doubles. Orr was 3-for-4 and also drove in two runs including the game winner. He was the only member of the Beach Bums to record multiple hits in a 10-hit attack.

The series will continue tomorrow night at GCS Ballpark in an 8:05 pm contest. RHP Dan Hawkins (0-3, 7.15) will make his second start while Gateway counters with RHP Toro Trevino (3-0, 3.77). Tim Calderwood will have the call of the game on The Fox FM beginning with the Beach Bums On Deck Show at 7:45 pm.



Frontier League Stories from June 19, 2007


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