Magnificent Regular Season Comes to a Close
September 2, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - The Traverse City Beach Bums wrapped up the best regular season in team history in front of a crowd of 4,376 on Fan Appreciation Day at Wuerfel Park. The Beach Bums dropped a 6-1 decision to the Frontier League Road Warriors, but still finished the regular season with the top overall record in the league at 64-32.
The 64 wins were the most in Beach Bums history and tied for the third most in Frontier League annals behind the 2007 Windy City ThunderBolts and the 2011 River City Rascals who each had 68.
The Road Warriors got out on top with a run in the first inning on a Mike Schwartz single. Two more runs came in during the second on a single by Ryan Kaup and a groundout by Matt Wright to score David Roney and Ben Magsig respectively. The Warriors increased the lead in the fifth, plating three runs to go up 6-0.
Traverse City got their lone run of the game in the ninth when Jose Vargas and Jeff Flagg each doubled.
On the mound, Tyler Vaske (2-2) got the win for the Road Warriors, taking a no-hitter into the seventh before a Kyle Coligan single with one out broke it up. Brooks Belter suffered the loss for the Beach Bums. The bullpen was solid for Traverse City as Scott Dunn, Nick Capito and Scott Mueller each worked a perfect inning.
It was a fantastic regular season all around for the Beach Bums who saw Jose Vargas tie the FL RBI record with 100. Ryan Still set the league record for walks with 110. As a team, the Beach Bums walked 455 times, the most ever in Frontier League history. Still and Chase Burch both finished with an average over .300 while five different Traverse City hitters had 50 or more RBI (Vargas - 100, Flagg - 83, Burch - 76, Colligan - 56, Gusrang - 50).
On the mound, Brooks Belter and Reid Kelly became the sixth and seventh pitchers in team history to record double digit wins. Kelly was the second pitcher ever for the Beach Bums to strike out more than 100 batters in a season. Jacob Clem finished the year 10th in the league in ERA and as a team, Traverse City saved 37 games, setting a league record.
The Beach Bums will open up the playoffs on Wednesday, September 5. Their opponent has not yet been determined. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. It will be a Weenie Wednesday with $1 hot dogs and a dollar off Hawg Dogs and brats. For tickets call 943-0100 or stop by the Wuerfel Park ticket office. The ticket office will be open from 10a-2p on Labor Day and 10a-6p on Tuesday. For more information, visit tcbeachbums.com
Playoff tickets will cost $10 with general admission seating for all Beach Bums playoff games. Private tables will be $50 per game and suites at Wuerfel Park will be just $100 for up to 10 people.
Frontier League Stories from September 2, 2012
- Joliet Sweeps CornBelters in Double Header to End Season on High Note - Joliet Slammers
- Miners Clinch Wild Card Spot - Southern Illinois Miners
- RiverHawks Lose Season Finale - Rockford RiverHawks
- CornBelters Score One Run in Doubleheader Sweep - Normal CornBelters
- Rascals Close out Season in Style - River City Rascals
- Grizzlies Finish off Regular Season with Impressive Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Evansville Otters Lose Season Finale at Home - Evansville Otters
- Boomers Punctuate Inaugural Season with Victory - Schaumburg Boomers
- Magnificent Regular Season Comes to a Close - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Crushers Still Breathing, Defeat Miners 6-2 - Lake Erie Crushers
- Miners Drop Game One - Southern Illinois Miners
- September 2 Joliet Slammers Double Header Game Notes - Joliet Slammers
- RiverHawks Win Quick on Cuevas Homer - Rockford RiverHawks
- RiverHawks, Grizzlies to Complete Tie Game, Then Play Season Finale - Rockford RiverHawks
- RiverHawks Lose and Tie... Yep, You Read That Right - Rockford RiverHawks
- Grizzlies Pick up Doubleheader Win against RiverHawks - Gateway Grizzlies
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