Flyers and Thatch take 'DARE'
Published on May 12, 2005 under Northern League (NL)
Schaumburg Flyers News Release
SCHAUMBURG, IL- Nigel Thatch, the actor who plays 'Leon' in the Budweiser television commercials, pitched two scoreless innings of relief on Wednesday, May 11, as the Schaumburg Flyers defeated the Play Ball USA Patriots 21-1 in the 'Flyers Diamond Dare' at Alexian Field.
Schaumburg is now 3-0 in pre-season play after defeating a Chicago amateur men's league team that won the right to play in an eBay auction held in February. Gate proceeds benefited the Les Turner ALS Foundation for Lou Gehrig's Disease on Wednesday as there was no formal ticket admission charge.
The Flyers scored in seven of their eight turns at bat after failing to score in the bottom of the first inning. Three runs in the second and five more in the third enabled Schaumburg to pull away for good.
Thatch entered the game in the top of the sixth inning for his Flyers debut with Schaumburg ahead 12-0. He promptly struck out Mike Neidzella on three pitches. After a one-out single, the right-hander recorded another strikeout and a groundout to end the inning. In the seventh, Thatch struck out Mike Cavalier to start the inning before former Flyer Ron Cacini connected for a single. A double play grounder then ended Thatch's evening on the mound.
The East St. Louis native threw 20 pitches, 16 for strikes, in two scoreless innings. He struck out three and allowed just two harmless singles.
On offense, DH Josue Lopez went 5-for-6 with 2 RBI and four runs scored. SS Geoff McCallum and LF Ted Ledbetter had four hits apiece with McCallum the high RBI man (4).
Starter Blake Williams (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings for the win. Rich Capparelli, who appeared in two games for the Flyers in 2002, took the loss. Capparelli was respectable in defeat, allowng three runs over two innings.
Ron Cacini's two-out RBI single on the infield in the ninth inning kept the Patriots from being shut out. RHP Blake Cross allowed the tally.
The next home game in the Flyers' exhibition package will take place on Tuesday, May 17 vs. Joliet (Game Time-7:05 PM).
Notes: There were no home runs on Wednesday...The game was played in extreme May cold with temperatures in the 40's and swirling winds at Alexian Field...Ron Cacini appeared in three games with the Flyers in 1999...
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- Flyers and Thatch take 'DARE' - Schaumburg Flyers
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