Bums' Comeback Falls Short In Series Finale

Published on May 15, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release


MARION, IL - The Traverse City Beach Bums(1-2) could not come back from a five run deficit, ultimately falling to the Southern Illinois Miners(2-1) by a final score of 6-4.

It didn't take very long for the scoring to begin in the season-opening season finale as the Miners struck for one in the first. Craig Massey led off with a double down the 3rd base line, just out of the reach of a diving Jose Vargas. After moving to third on a ground out, he was driven home by a Nolan Earley RBI single up the middle. The third inning was just about a carbon coby of the first, but this time it was a Massey triple down with 1st base line, away from the lunge of Brandon Thomasson. Two batters later, Earley drove home the second run with another RBI single, this time to right field.

The Beach Bums got their offense started in the top of the fourth when Jeff DeBlieux led off with a double to center. He moved to third on a deep fly out by Will Kengor. Jose Vargas followed with a sacrifice fly to center to drive home DeBlieux, and cut the Miners' lead to 2-1. Southern Illinois fought right back in the bottom of the frame, starting the inning off when Steve Marino was hit by the first pitch. Two batters later, Francisco Rosario singled to left, putting runners on the corners with one away. Toby DeMello promptly smacked a hard grounder off the pitcher Michael Shreves, rebounding into right field to drive in Marino, giving the Miners back the 2 run advantage. Massey followed with a grounder to short, but was hit to softly to turn the double play, allowing Rosario to score, and it was 4-1 Miners.

DeMello led off the seventh inning with a looping double into the left field corner. After Julius Gaines walked, and Earley was walked, Alex DeLeon stepped up with the bases loaded and one out. He then ripped an RBI single to center to drive home DeMello, while Gaines and Earley moved up ninety feet. Aaron Gates stepped up and hit a fly ball to center, driving to Gaines on the sacrifice, bringing to game to a 6-1 Miners' lead.

In the eighth, the Beach Bums started to chip away, starting off the inning with a lead-off walk to Ryan Bottger. DeBlieux followed with a single to left, then, after Will Kengor grounded to first, moving Bottger to third, Vargas picked up his second sacrifice fly of the game, scoring Bottger, bringing Traverse City within four, at 6-2. After the Miners went down in order in the bottom of the inning, Nate Causey led off by getting hit by a pitch. Steven Patterson was up next and he slammed a two-run home run over the left-centerfield wall for his first long ball of the season. Unfortunately, that blast seemed to wake up the Miners closer, Zach Cooper, who retired the next three batters in order, to end the ball game, and clinch the series for the Miners.

Josh Kimborowicz(1-0) earned the win for Southern Illinois, going six innings, allowing one run, on three hits, a walk, and seven strikeouts. The Bums' Michael Shreves(0-1) went six as well, but gave up four runs on six hits, walking two, and striking out three, in a losing effort. The bullpen for the Miners was solid between Jake Cose, Isaac Gil, and Zach Cooper, it was three innings by the 'pen, with the only major hiccup being the Patterson home run.

Next up for the Beach Bums, after a day off on Monday, a quick two game matinee series in suburban Chicago against the Windy City Thunderbolts. On the mound for Windy City will be Ryan Strombom and for Traverse City, it'll be Jacob Lanning. First pitch on both Tuesday and Wednesday is scheduled for 11:35am at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood, IL. Tom Willms has the call on 101.9 The Bay, starting at 11:15am with the Miller Lite pre-game show.

Don't forget: The 2016 home opener will be highlighted by the Pre-Game Championship Ring Ceremony at Wuerfel Park on Friday, May 20th, when the Beach Bums host the Joliet Slammers. Be ready for great baseball and a FANtastic Friday Fireworks display presented by 4 Front Credit Union.

The Beach Bums business offices are open from 9am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. Sponsorships, season tickets, group packages, patio tables, and suite, are all currently available for the 2016 season. The Box Office & Gift Ship are now open with non-gameday hours of 10am to 6pm Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm on Saturday. Wuerfel Park is closed on non-gameday Sundays. Stadium hours are extended on gamedays.

For more information, please to call the offices at 1-231-943-0100 or come on out to the park and say hello!

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