Champlin Pitches First No-Hitter in Bums' History
May 20, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Kramer Champlin, in the Traverse City Beach Bums'(2-4) 2016 home opener, delivered an epic performance, allowing only three base runners to earn the first no-hitter in the team's eleven year history, defeating the Joliet Slammers(3-5), 5-0.
After allowing a walk and hitting a batter in the first inning, Champlin settled down to retire the next 17 Slammers to step to the plate. Only one more Joliet player would reach base, and that was a lead-off walk in the seventh inning. From there, he retired the next nine to finish off history. Previously, the closest the Beach Bums have gotten a no-hitter, was one-hitter in a seven inning contest back in 2012 against the now-defunct, Frontier League Road Warriors.
Both teams went scoreless in the first three innings, until Jose Vargas, who, during the pre-game ceremonies, received his 2015 Frontier League playoff MVP plaque, hit a blast to the left-center field wall. At first, it was assumed that it hit the top of the fence but, after quick deliberation, the umpires ruled it had hit the bottom of the scoreboard, for a solo homer, his first of the season.
One out into the Bums' half of the sixth, Will Kengor was hit in the back by a pitch. Two batters later, with two away, Steven Patterson hit a rope into left for a single to drive in Kengor, doubling the Traverse City lead. Brandon Thomasson stepped up next and hit his own RBI single, then was brought home by a Nate Causey RBI double to left. Tyler Peterson finished the onslaught with an RBI double of his own, to right-center field, to make it 5-0.
From there, the only question left was, would Champlin make history? He finished the game with ten strikeouts, including one last emphatic "K" in the ninth. The final out was a hard grounder by Alfredo Rodriguez, appropriately enough to Vargas, who waited back on the ball and fired across the diamond to set off the wild celebration on the field and in the stands.
The Beach Bums will be back in action tomorrow night for game two of this three game series against the Joliet Slammers. Left-hander Dylan Stoops will take the hill for Traverse City and, for Joliet, it will be Marc Rutledge. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm and Tom Willms will have the call on 101.9FM - The Bay, starting at 6:45pm with the Miller Lite Pre-Game Show.
Don't forget: Tomorrow night's contest will feature the season's first Short's Brewery Takeover, featuring Melt My Brain Gin and Tonic Ale. Once again, be sure to come out and try this new beer, while supplies last!
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.
Frontier League Stories from May 20, 2016
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- Grizzlies Strike Late To Take Series Opener - Gateway Grizzlies
- Champlin Pitches First No-Hitter in Bums' History - Traverse City Beach Bums
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- ThunderBolts Win Fifth Straight Behind Muller's Gem - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Andre "The Hawk" Dawson to Visit Silver Cross Field June 18 - Joliet Slammers
- Rascals Overcome Adversity, Sweep Series over Freedom - River City Rascals
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- Wild Things Rally past Joliet - Washington Wild Things
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