Flyers take opener
Published on May 20, 2005 under Northern League (NL)
Schaumburg Flyers News Release
ST. PAUL, MN- The Schaumburg Flyers returned to the site of their shocking loss in last September's Northern League Championship Series and got their 2005 season off on the right foot on Friday, May 20, defeating the St. Paul Saints 6-4 at Midway Stadium in the Northern League opener for both teams.
Flyers 3B Chris Weekly belted two home runs as part of a 2-for-4, 5 RBI performance and RHP Matt Bailie (1-0) allowed just one unearned run over seven innings of work.
The Saints scored three runs off reliever E.J. Shanks in the eighth inning to charge into the game, cutting the Schaumburg lead to 6-4. Reliever Jason Cierlik prevented further damage by getting Nick Gretz and T. Brown to ground out and strand Adam Olow at third base.
In the ninth, rookie closer Blake Cross (Save #1) came on and retired the first two batters. However, St. Paul battled to the end, creating a tense finish. Tim Marks was hit by a pitch and rookie Chris Weber walked, bringing leadoff man Kris Cox to the plate. Cox grounded into a game ending force play as SS Geoff McCallum ran to the bag himself to force Weber.
Both teams were hitless through the first three innings before 2B Eddie Romprey started the Schaumburg fourth with a single. After a throwing error plated Romprey with the first run, Weekly hit a three-run homer down the right field line on the first pitch he saw from Saints starter Bryan Gaal (0-1). After the Saints scored an unearned run in the fourth, Weekly struck again in the sixth, crushing an 0-2 Gaal pitch over the wall in right with two on and none out. Jason Fitzgerald had walked and moved to third on an Eric Cole double to set up the blast.
Bailie allowed just four hits, three singles, on the evening. He walked just one and struck out six St. Paul hitters. Cole and Weekly had two hits apiece to lead an eight-hit Schaumburg attack.
The Flyers and Saints will play Game 2 of their four game season opening series on Saturday evening. LHP Anthony Boughner will oppose St. Paul RHP Mike Meyer. The 7:05 PM game can be heard over flyersbaseball.com.
The home opener is set for Tuesday, May 24 vs. Fargo at Alexian Field. Call (847) 891-2255 or visit flyersbaseball.com for ticket information.
Notes: The Flyers are now 4-3 all-time in season openers with two consecutive wins...They opened on the road for the first time since 2000 on Friday...Gaal, Friday's losing pitcher, also started Game 5 of the Northern League Finals last September...The Saints rallied to win that game in the ninth and get Gaal off the hook...Each team returns ten players from the active rosters that finished the season last September 19...The Flyers played their inaugural game against St. Paul in 1999 and also won that contest, a game at Alexian Field...Weekly also had a two-homer game last season, nearly one year ago on May 23, 2004 vs. Fargo...Nigel Thatch, a.k.a. 'Leon', did not pitch on Friday...
Northern League Stories from May 20, 2005
- Cracker-Cats beat T-Bones - Edmonton Capitals
- Rally comes up short as Saints fall in opener - St. Paul Saints
- JackHammers defeat RailCats - Joliet JackHammers
- X's down Vipers 7-3 - Sioux City Explorers
- Flyers take opener - Schaumburg Flyers
- Cracker-Cats defeat T-Bones - Kansas City Monarchs
- Game suspended by rain - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- RailCats fall 3-2 in season opener - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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