CornBelters lose to Miners
July 24, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, lost the rubber match of a three-game set to the Southern Illinois Miners, despite a furious 9th inning rally, by a score of 10-8 in 11 innings Tuesday night at the Corn Crib. Ross Davis (1-0) registered the win for Southern Illinois, while Normal's Josh Joseph (1-3) suffered the loss.
Southern Illinois jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage when leadoff man Darien Sanford walked, stole second base, and came around to score on an overthrow by Normal catcher Trey Manz as the Miner leftfielder swiped third.
The 'Belters responded in the bottom of the inning when centerfielder Ty Wiesemeyer sent his first homerun of the season over the wall in right center to knot the game up at one run apiece.
Back-to-back doubles by Normal first baseman Ernie Banks Jr. and designated hitter Sam Judah brought in another run and provided the 'Belters with their first lead of the game. Two batters later third baseman Andrew Cohn's sacrifice fly allowed Judah to score, extending the Normal advantage to 3-1.
Walks again plagued Stovall as Southern Illinois got a run back in the top of the 5th when former CornBelter Alvaro Ramirez collected an RBI groundout, bringing in Chad Maddox who was issued a free pass to begin the inning, and cutting the Normal lead to just 3-2.
In the 7th it was Maddox who again punished the 'Belters as he came in to score the tying run on an RBI groundout by Jason Ganek. Later in the inning a two-run triple by Will Block gave the Miners a 5-3 advantage. Southern Illinois would push across another tally in the top of the 8th, extending their lead to three.
A one-out triple by Wiesemeyer in the bottom of the 8th set the table for second baseman Norberto Susini who's RBI groundout brought the 'Belters within two heading to the 9th.
The Miners would again add to their advantage in the 9th as Ramirez recorded his second RBI of the night when his single brought home Gregory. Southern Illinois would get another tally in the inning and extend their lead to 8-4.
After Banks, Judah, and Manz all reached base to start the 9th, left fielder Bobby Rinard brought in the first CornBelter run with an RBI single to center field. A wild pitch plated Judah before an RBI groudout by Cohn cut the Miner advantage to 8-7 with one out in the inning. After a strikeout, Wiesemeyer beat out an infield single, allowing Rinard to score the tying run and send the game into extra innings.
After a scoreless 10th, Gregory led off the 11th inning with a solo shot to the berm in right. A batter later, Ramirez added a solo blast of his own to extend the Miner lead to 10-8.
Wednesday the 'Belters will hit the road to begin a three game set with the Rockford Riverhawks. Wednesday the two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 6:05. The scheduled pitching matchups are: Game 1 - Normal RHP Daniel Britt (3-6, 5.86) vs. Rockford Kyle Schepel (3-1, 0.54); Game 2 - Normal RHP Brandon Smith (0-3, 3.91) vs. Rockford RHP Drew Rucinski (4-1, 2.43). Pregame begins on WJBC.com at 5:50.
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