Belters Bomb Bums Early To Earn Rebound Win
Published on August 3, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
An early offensive explosion helped the Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, rebound to take the middle game of the series with an 8-3 win over the Traverse City Beach Bums at Wuerfel Park in Traverse City, Michigan.
Again, the CornBelters scored in the first by batting 11 men in the frame. With one out, Brandon Newton and Frank Martinez singled, Steve Alexander walked and Tyler McNeely was hit by a pitch to force in a run. A.J. Miller singled in Martinez and Alexander to increase the lead to 3-0. Tyler Keeble was hit in the helmet with a pitch to load the bases again, and Andrew Barbaro knocked in McNeely with a base hit to right to end the night for Beach Bums starter Matt Smith. The Belters explosion continued as Andy Mee's fielder's choice ground ball scored Miller when the Bums couldn't turn the double play to end the scoring with a 5-0 Normal lead.
The Beach Bums broke through in the third inning by loading the bases with one out and scoring with a Matt Brown base hit, but CornBelters starting pitcher Bobby Pritchett struck out the next two hitters to strand the bases loaded and keep the Normal lead at 5-1 after three innings.
The hosts greeted Normal reliever Ben Paxton in the seventh with a lead-off triple by Jeff Flagg, who scored on a double from Hector Bernal to cut the Belters lead to 5-2. John Parham walked and Zack Pace beat out his sacrifice bunt attempt to load the bases and end Paxton's night, with reliever Jacob Liedka taking over. Liedka got Matt Brown to ground into a double play, scoring another run, and Jose Vargas to fly out to end the threat with Normal still leading 5-3 heading into the eighth inning.
The CornBelters bought some insurance in the ninth, when Alvaro Ramirez led off with an infield single followed by a walk to Brandon Newton, and they scored on the tenth home run of the season by Frank Martinez to bump the lead to 8-3.
Bobby Pritchett (6-3) earned the win, giving up an earned run on five hits while striking out four while walking two. Matt Smith (1-5) took the loss. Marshall Schuler recorded the last four outs for his sixth save. Frank Martinez led the Belters offense with a 5-for-5 night with three RBI.
The series concludes at Wuerfel Park on Thursday night at 6:05 p.m. Central with right-hander Brett Lester (4-4, 5.05) starting on the mound for the CornBelters against Beach Bums lefty David Deminsky (3-2, 3.62). Pre-game on WEZC-FM 95.9 and WJBC.com begins at 5:50.
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