Beach Bums Win Wild One

Published on August 19, 2007 under Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release


CHILLICOTHE, OHIO - The Traverse City Beach Bums capped a successful roadtrip by winning their second consecutive series, capturing an 11-10 decision over Chillicothe in a wild game on Sunday night at VA Memorial Stadium.

With Bill Schmieder making his first professional start for Chillicothe, the Beach Bums took advantage, opening a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Brad Vericker began the frame with a double into right center. Aaron Garza dropped down a sacrifice to move him to third. Zack Kalter put the Beach Bums in front with a single to left. Justin Holmes and Sam Orr followed with singles of their own to load the bases for Jeff Brown. Brown cleared the bases with a double into right to give Traverse City a 4-0 lead. Steve Young added an RBI single later to make it 5-0.

The Beach Bums chased Schmeider from the game with two more runs in the third. Brad Vericker was again the catalyst, leading off with a single. Aaron Garza followed with a two-run homer over the wall in left to make it a 7-0 lead. The homer for Garza was his 10th of the season and established a Beach Bums single season record. Brad Vericker led the team with nine homers in 2006.

Chillicothe was able to grab the momentum and pull within 7-6 following a six run inning in the third. Dan Cummins connected on a grand slam off of Ryan Gehring to cap the scoring. The Paints added three more runs in the fourth to take their first lead of the night. Paul Rutgers led off with a triple and was the last batter of the night for Ryan Gehring. Jeff Williams entered and allowed the tying run to score while also surrendering a two-run homer off the bat of former Beach Bum JT Thomas to give the Paints the lead.

The lead was short lived as the Beach Bums tied the game against two pitchers in the fifth inning. Aaron Garza recorded a one-out single and Zack Kalter followed with a walk. A wild pitch moved the runners up and Justin Holmes pulled the Beach Bums within 9-8 following an RBI single. The tying run scored on a delayed steal from third.

The Beach Bums capped the scoring in the sixth inning. Brad Roblin led off with a triple down the line and scored on a Steve Young groundout. Brad Vericker would double home Curtis Ledbetter later in the frame. The Paints were able to pull within 11-10 in the seventh, but Tyler Meigs threw two scoreless innings to nail down his eighth save.

Traverse City finished with 13 hits in the game and used seven pitchers. Matt Dillard earned the win. Brad Vericker was chosen as the Player of the Game following a 3-for-5 showing with two doubles, two runs, and an RBI. Aaron Garza, and Justin Holmes also recorded multi-hit games. Jeff Brown drove in three. Curtis Ledbetter extended his hitting streak to 19 games with an infield single.

The Beach Bums return home for a 7:05 pm game at Wuerfel Park on Monday night against the Florence Freedom. The first 500 adults 18 and older through the gates will receive a Beach Bums/Priority Health Senior Center Games T-Shirt on Priority Health Center Senior Games Night. RHP David Nathanson (3-2, 3.79) will pitch for the Beach Bums while LHP Scott Fogelson (5-6, 4.35) gets the ball for Florence in the series opener. Tim Calderwood will broadcast the game on The Fox FM beginning with the Beach Bums On Deck Show at 6:45 pm.

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Frontier League Stories from August 19, 2007


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