Over 8,500 come out for a day game in Schaumburg

July 23, 2008 - Northern League (NL)
Schaumburg Flyers News Release


Schaumburg, IL - Flyers mascot Bearon certainly has no lack of friends. 8,636 people were in attendance at a day game on Wednesday to celebrate Bearon's tenth birthday - an Alexian Field record. Despite the will of the fans and the birthday boy, the Schaumburg Flyers weren't able to come through with a victory, falling to the Joliet JackHammers by a final score of 8-2.

Joliet (29-29) wasted no time in capturing an early lead. Flyers starter Brad Mumma (5-4) got two quick outs of JackHammers hitters, but LF Steve Garrabrants (2-for-4, RBI) began a two-out push with a single to left. CF Cory Harris (2-for-4, RBI) followed that with a single of his own, and DH Joey Gomes (1-for-3, 2 RBI) put Joliet on the board first with a bases-clearing double that made it 2-0 before the home team got a chance to bat.

Schaumburg (21-40) did halve that lead in the bottom of the second with some two-out magic of its own. Against JackHammer starter David Moraga (8-1), Flyers C Lance Koenig (1-for-4, Run) doubled with two away to set up a single by 2B Wilson Matos (2-for-4, RBI). Not only was the hit Matos' first as a Flyer, but it produced his first RBI as well, cutting the Joliet lead to 2-1.

That would be as close as the home team got to a lead in the game. The top of the fifth saw a double by Joliet SS Nick McIntyre (1-for-5, 2 R) set up a Cory Harris RBI single, and a walk later in the frame put a man in position to score on a single from RF Dennis Blackmon (2-for-4, 2 RBI). The score after the fifth stood at 4-1, still within striking distance for Schaumburg.

All that would change in the top of the sixth. That's when 10 JackHammers would come to the plate in a frame that would push the visitors' advantage to 8-1. Steve Garrabrants and 2B Joe Hooft (1-for-5, RBI) each had run-scoring doubles for Joliet in the inning, and a walk to Blackmon with the bases loaded also drove in a run.

The final push for a victory came from Schaumburg in the bottom of the eighth. 3B Vince Harrison (2-for-3, Run), who had tripled in his previous at-bat, sent a double off the left-field wall to lead off the frame. Two batters later, 1B Chris Gaskin (1-for-4, RBI) sprayed a single to drive in Harrison and make it 8-2. But on a day where Joliet turned four double plays against Schaumburg and the Flyers stranded 12 men on base, single-run innings were not going to be enough to defeat the JackHammers.

Alexian Field will be the site for the final game of this series on Thursday evening. The Flyers will look for a second straight win from RHP Alex Rollin (2-2, 6.14), while Joliet sends RHP Nate Sevier (3-3,4.16) to the hill. Come out to the ballpark if you can for Thirsty Thursday, or listen to the game online at flyersbaseball.com.

The Schaumburg Flyers are a member of the Northern League, a 6-team Independent Professional Baseball League established in 1993. Opening Day is May 15th, 2008. For ticket information call (847) 891-BALL (2255) or visit www.flyersbaseball.com



Northern League Stories from July 23, 2008


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