Grizzlies Squeeze Past Beach Bums 5-3 in 10 Innings

Published on July 18, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release


TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Ben Waldrip blooped a two-run single with the bases loaded in the top of the 10th, giving the Gateway Grizzlies a 5-3 extra-inning win over the Traverse City Beach Bums on Friday night at Wuerfel Park.

Waldrip's base knock came on the first pitch he saw from D.J. Johnson with two outs in the 10th. Michael Wing, who had singled, and T.J. Bennett, who reached on a fielder's choice, came around to score on the game-winning hit for Waldrip.

Johnson (0-3) had come on with runners on the corners and two outs in a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth. The first batter he faced, Madison Beaird, laid down a suicide squeeze that scored Bennett to put Gateway on top 3-2. Johnson got out of the frame with no further damage.

Traverse City responded in the last of the ninth by loading the bases against Gateway closer Ricahrd Barrett. With the bags packed, Scott Woodward, in his first game after missing the last 26 contests while on the DL, lifted a ball to the warning track in center field that was hauled in for a sacrifice fly, knotting the game at three. Barrett (2-1) would get Jeff DeBlieux to fly out with the winning run at third to force extras.

The wild finish followed up a stellar pitching duel between the Beach Bums' Ian MacDougall and the Grizzlies' Ja'Vaun West. TC got to West in the last of the first as Sean Gusrang went the opposite way for a one-out double before being driven in on a Jose Vargas RBI single to make it 1-0. It was Vargas' first at-bat after missing 43 games due to a broken left hand. He finished 1-for-5 with an RBI.

DeBlieux added on to the advantage with a solo shot leading off the last of the third against West, making it 2-0. It was the fifth blast of the year for DeBlieux. Those were the only two runs West gave up in seven innings with nine strikeouts, as he settled for a no-decision.

MacDougall posted his second straight quality start for Traverse City, tossing four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Two singles, an error and a passed ball put runners at second and third with nobody out for the Grizzlies, but MacDougall got back-to-back strikeouts to keep the runners where they were. However, Landon Hernandez singled to left with two away, scoring both runners to even the game at two.

The southpaw allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in six innings while also posting a career-high nine strikeouts.

The Beach Bums and Grizzlies tangle again on Saturday at 7:05 p.m with Casey Delgado (5-2, 2.38) going for Traverse City against Gateway's Aaron Newcomb (7-2, 4.47). The Beach Bums will welcome HGTV star Carter Oosterhouse and actress Amy Smart to Wuerfel Park. Carter and Amy will be promoting their charity, Carter's Kids, with the Beach Bums wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game. Gates will open at 5 p.m. for a special pregame autograph session with Carter and Amy from 5-6 p.m. Those unable to make the game can listen to the broadcast starting at 6:45 p.m. on Classic Rock the Bear 98.1/107.1 and classicrockthebear.com.

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Frontier League Stories from July 18, 2014


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