CornBelters Clinch Playoff Berth with Rout of Grizzlies
Published on August 27, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
SAUGET, Ill. - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, clinched their first-ever playoff berth with a 10-2 win over the Gateway Grizzlies on Thursday night at GCS Ballpark.
The Belters scored before the first out as Mark Micowski led off the game with a walk and went to third on a Santiago Chirino double to the left field corner, followed by a two-run double to the left field line by Aaron Dudley. A passed ball sent Dudley to third followed by a run-scoring fielder's choice by Pat McKenna for a 3-0 lead.
The CornBelters plated two more in the second by loading the bases and scoring on a throwing error and a single by McKenna.
The Grizzlies picked up an unearned run in the third inning on an infield single by Madison Beaird plus a throwing error to send him to second base, from where he scored on a single by Garrett Vail to cut the deficit to 5-1.
The Belters doubled their run total in the fourth inning by batting 10 men and scoring five times on three consecutive doubles, a pair of two-run drives by Richard Lucas and Sam Judah and an RBI two-base hit by Cameron Monger for a 10-1 lead.
Gateway turned a lead-off fifth-inning double by Grant Buckner into a run with a one-out single by Vail to trim the Belters advantage to 10-2.
Mike Schweiss (8-7) earned the win Dakota Smith (2-3) lasted 3 1/3 innings and took the loss.
The Belters (53-34) increase their lead to four games over the River City Rascals in the Frontier League West Division and reduce their magic number to clinch the division to five, a combination of Belters wins and Rascals losses.
The CornBelters continue the road trip on Friday at 7:05 p.m. against the Rockford Aviators as Frontier League Pitcher of the Week Chris Carmain (6-2, 2.54 ERA) starts on the mound for Normal. The broadcast on WJBC.com begins at 6:50 p.m. from Aviators Stadium with listen links found on Facebook, Twitter (@normal_baseball) and www.normalbaseball.com.
THE NIBLET: The CornBelters return home for the final six games of the regular season starting Tuesday! On Thursday, the Belters will wear special jerseys to benefit Marcfirst presented by The Snyder Companies. Sunday's regular season finale is Fan Appreciation Day! For tickets or for more information, please contact the CornBelters today at (309) 454-2255 (BALL) or stop by The Mid-Illini Credit Union Box Office at The Corn Crib during normal business hours.
Frontier League Stories from August 27, 2015
- Grizzlies Fall to CornBelters as Pitching Struggles - Gateway Grizzlies
- Miners Fall to Crushers in Extras - Southern Illinois Miners
- ThunderBolts Take Finale from River City - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Boomers Win Series at Joliet - Schaumburg Boomers
- Freedom Beat Aviators in Crucial Series Finale - Florence Y'alls
- CornBelters Clinch Playoff Berth with Rout of Grizzlies - Normal CornBelters
- Aviators Fall in Florence Rubber Match - Rockford Aviators
- Brett Marshall Is Masterful in Otters Sweep of Greys - Evansville Otters
- Traverse City Sweeps Washington - Washington Wild Things
- CornBelters to Wear Special Jersey for Marcfirst Presented by the Snyder Companies - Normal CornBelters
- August 27 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Grizzlies Use Long Ball to Power Past CornBelters - Gateway Grizzlies
- Crushers use long ball to go up early, but Miners storm back after sixth inning - Lake Erie Crushers
- Freedom and Aviators Split Doubleheader - Florence Y'alls
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