Kalamazoo stops Beach Bums 13-10 in opener
May 22, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- The Traverse City Beach Bums opened the 2009 season by falling at Kalamazoo 13-10.
The Beach Bums made a late rally but were unable to overcome three homers from three different Kalamazoo hitters as the Kings scored runs in four straight innings to blow open a 4-2 game.
The Kings scored a pair of unearned runs against the 2009 Frontier League leader in ERA, David Nathanson, in the bottom of the second. Brendan Murphy reached on an error, moved to third on a double by Simon Williams, and both scored on RBI groundouts by Kyle Higgins and Steve Malavagna.
Two more runs crossed in the fourth to make it 4-0 as Hans Stancil drove in a pair with a double. Traverse City cut the deficit in half in the fifth inning. Brad Miller led off the inning with a walk and Brian Lapin followed by homering over the left field wall with a broken bat.
Kalamazoo scored six runs in the bottom of the inning against two different pitchers. The first three hitters of the inning reached and Brendan Murphy hit a grand slam over the wall in center. Later in the frame Michael Graves homered in his first professional at bat, a two-run shot off of Pete McEneaney.
Bryan Frew doubled in two in the sixth, and John Alonso drove in a run for the Beach Bums with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, but Kalamazoo led 13-5 after scoring once in the sixth and twice in the seventh on a two-run homer by Tim Brown.
Trailing 13-5 entering the ninth, the Beach Bums were able to score five runs and bring the tying run to the plate. Kalamazoo reliever Adam Arnold struggled with his control, walking three and hitting two. Alonso drew a bases loaded walk and Patrick Perry was hit with a pitch when they were loaded. Kyle Maunus drove the first pitch from reliever Joe Catanese into left for a run scoring single, and Brian Lapin and Bryn Frew also drove in runs before Catanese struck out Chase Gerdes to end the game with runners at the corners.
David Nathanson took the loss for the Beach Bums, lasting just four innings and allowing eight runs (six earned). Pete McEneaney, Greg Ford, Shawn Joy, and B.J. Hagen also appeared for the Beach Bums. Hagen was a bright spot, recording a 1-2-3 inning in his pro debut. John Brownell pitched five innings and got the win for Kalamazoo.
Brian Lapin was the Beach Bums Player of the Game, finishing 3-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored, and three RBI. Bryan Frew drove home three runs, and John Alonso two. Traverse City hitters drew nine walks in the contest.
The series will continue tomorrow night with a 7:05 pm contest. RHP Brett Bostelman will make his season debut for the Beach Bums opposite LHP Trent Lare for Kalamazoo. The home opener is May 26 against Southern Illinois. Tickets are now on sale for all games on the 2009 slate.
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Frontier League Stories from May 22, 2009
- Kings Win Season Opener - Kalamazoo Kings
- Rascals crush Grizzlies, 7-1 - River City Rascals
- RiverHawks suffer walkoff loss - Rockford RiverHawks
- ThunderBolts prevail in extra innings - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Rascals win over Grizzlies in opener - River City Rascals
- Kalamazoo stops Beach Bums 13-10 in opener - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Opening Day Is Here; Laber Gets Starting Nod - River City Rascals
- Farm Bureau Insurance Set to Kickoff Honorary Beach Bums Bat Boy Program - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Zavada Takes Win in MLB Debut - Southern Illinois Miners
- Windy City comes up short in opener - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Knapp hits tie-breaking homer as âHawks win opener - Rockford RiverHawks
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