FL Windy City ThunderBolts

RiverHawks Take Finale

Published on June 6, 2005 under Frontier League (FL)
Windy City ThunderBolts News Release


Crestwood, IL - The Windy City ThunderBolts were defeated, 4-2, in extra innings in the rubber game of their three game series against the Rockford RiverHawks on Monday night at Hawkinson Ford Field.

The ThunderBolts found themselves in a hole after the first inning. In the top of the first, the RiverHawks plated one. Centerfielder Doug Schutt doubled to lead off the game. Schutt came around to score on a ground out by leftfielder Brian Baron after advancing to third on a ground out by second baseman Shaff Elkouri.

Windy City batters scored two of their own in the bottom of the third. Second baseman Sam Monroy reached first to lead off the inning on a booted ball by the Rockford first baseman. Shortstop Clemente Bonilla continued his torrid hitting by slamming a double down the rightfield line. Monroy moved to third base on Bonilla's double and scored on a ground out by third baseman Matt Ferrara. Bonilla advanced to third on Ferrara's out and scored on a single to right by rightfielder Nick Johnson to give the ThunderBolts a 2-1 advantage.

Rockford came back to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning. First baseman Aaron McEachran singled and then Olmo Rosario grounded into a fielder's choice to advance McEachran to second. A stinging single to left by Rico Santana drove McEachran home to send the game to extra innings.

The RiverHawks roughed up reliever Matt Hines in the top of the tenth, striking for two runs. Schutt singled to lead off the inning and then stole second base. Pinch hitter Matt Sauls singled to center to score Schutt from second base to make the score 3-2. Rosario eventually drove in Sauls to give the RiverHawks an insurance run at 4-2.

With one out in the bottom of the tenth, Bonilla looped a single to center. Ferrara followed suit with a single to center to bring the winning run to the plate. That was as close at the ThunderBolts would get as the final two ThunderBolt batters fanned to end the game.

Ryan Dittfurth had another excellent outing for the ThunderBolts. Dittfurth went seven and two-thirds strong innings, relinquishing just that first inning run on five hits but earned a no-decision. Matt Hines came on in relief and gave up the tying run in the ninth and the go-ahead runs in the tenth. The loss drops Hines' record to 0-1. RiverHawks reliever Jason Glosser earned the win, bettering his record to 2-0 on the season.

Following an off day tomorrow, the ThunderBolts will travel to Sauget, Illinois to take on the Gateway Grizzlies for the first game of a three game set on Wednesday. The ThunderBolts will return home on Saturday, June 11th to take on the River City Rascals at 7:05pm.

The Windy City ThunderBolts are a member of the 12-team Frontier League. The Frontier League is an independent league with franchises throughout the upper Midwest. The ThunderBolts have full season tickets, group packages, and 10-game mini plans available for purchase. Group packages include the executive suites, pre-game picnics, birthday parties, and Field of Dreams. For tickets or more information, please call 708-489-BALL (2255), send an e-mail to info@wcthunderbolts.com, visit the team offices at Hawkinson Ford Field, or visit the team on-line at www.wcthunderbolts.com.

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Frontier League Stories from June 6, 2005


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