High-Scoring Affair Favors Chinooks for Seventh-Straight Road Victory
June 18, 2021 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Lakeshore Chinooks News Release
Rockford, Ill. -- A familiar number displayed on the scoreboard for the Lakeshore Chinooks. The players and coaching staff checked the margin in the eighth inning with a four-run lead.
Lakeshore had scored its 11th run for the second time in five days, extending their winning streak to five after their first off day while continuing to ascend in the Great Lakes West Division.
The Chinooks garnered their seventh-straight road win, 11-7, against the Rivets Thursday evening at Rockford Stadium.
A scoreless contest didn't sustain, as Lakeshore (9-7) relied on a five-run first frame to power ahead.
Designated hitter Kai Murphy laced a single to left field for his first of two hits, and first baseman Brennen Bales followed with an RBI base knock to score second baseman Colton Bauer.
The spark wouldn't waver when center fielder Connor Kimple hit a sacrifice fly to score Murphy.
Right fielder Nathan Aide continued with a two-out RBI double to left field, and third baseman Dalton Doyle launched a two-run home run to left field, capping off the early avalanche for a 5-0 advantage.
The Rivets offered somewhat of an answer in the bottom half of the first, managing only a run due to a sacrifice fly hit from third baseman Wade Elliott, who led with a 3-for-4 performance.
After two consecutive strikeouts in the third, left fielder Ethan Vecrumba produced an RBI single to center field, scoring catcher Stephen Hrustich.
The visitors expanded upon their lead in the fourth. Murphy once again scored on a sacrifice fly, bringing up Aide with the basepaths empty. Aide then knocked a two-out double to right field for his second hit, as Hrustich was plated on a wild pitch.
With right-handed starter Blake Malatestinic still on the mound in the fourth, Rivets designated hitter Jared Cushing managed to poke a one-out single to left field and score second baseman Josue Urdaneta.
Rockford continued chipping away, as catcher Max Malley scored Elliott with a single to right field, reducing the lead to 9-3.
Left-handed reliever Jason DeCicco filled for Malatestinic thereafter and fired a scoreless fifth inning, yet yielded multiple runs in the following frame.
Rivets' left fielder Jake Donahue hit an RBI single to left field for his only hit, and right fielder Philip Matulia worked a two-out walk to load the bases for shortstop Brody Harding. A five-pitch walk scored Cushing, while a subsequent passed ball passed ball plated Donahue, pulling Rockford within reach, 10-6.
The Rivets' rally kept their comeback within sight, but Chinooks left-handed reliever Cade Berendt didn't let the lead slip. The McKendree University freshman allowed one run in the ninth and three hits total, but nonetheless earned the save.
Pinch hitting for Hrustich in the eighth, catcher Riley Swenson lofted a home run--his first of the season--to center field for the Chinooks' final run.
DeCicco earned his first win, and Lakeshore started its home-and-home with a win and returns to Kapco Park Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
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