Three Homers Carry Beach Bums

Published on July 1, 2007 under Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release


KALAMAZOO, MI - The Traverse City Beach Bums snapped a five game losing streak in a big way by rolling past the Kalamazoo Kings 12-4 behind three homers at Homer Stryker Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Beach Bums scored first for the second straight contest, touching Kalamazoo's ace pitcher Jeff Long for two first inning runs. Zack Kalter and Justin Holmes singled to start the frame but a strike him out throw him out double play left a runner at second with two away. Curtis Ledbetter, making his first start since June 27, connected on his team leading fourth homer of the season, clearing the wall in left center to make the score 2-0.

David Nathanson made his first professional start for the Beach Bums after being signed on Thursday and retired the first five batters he faced. Simon Williams, the sixth hitter, hit his second homer in as many nights off of Beach Bums pitching to trim the deficit to 2-1. The Kings were able to knot the game at two apiece with an unearned run in the bottom of the third.

The game did not stay tied for long as the Beach Bums scored three runs in the top of the fourth to open a 5-2 advantage. Curtis Ledbetter led off the inning with an infield single. Jeff Vincent drew a walk and Sam Orr followed with an opposite field single to left. With the bases loaded Jeff Brown drove home a run with a groundout. Matt Rademacher followed with a first pitch single up the middle that scored both Vincent and Orr to give the Beach Bums a three-run lead.

The Kings used Simon Williams to shorten the lead in the fourth as Williams doubled off the wall in center to score Robert Moron and pull the Kings within 5-3, but the Beach Bums were able to open up the game in the sixth. With one away Sam Orr was hit by a pitch and Jeff Brown and Matt Rademacher followed with hits to load the bases. Aaron Garza, signed yesterday, connected on his first professional hit with a grand slam homerun clearing the wall in left field to open a 9-3 lead.

Kalamazoo picked up a run off of Nathanson in the bottom of the inning to pull within 9-4. The sixth was the final inning for Nathanson, who earned the win in his first professional start. Nathanson (1-0) pitched six innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on five hits to go with a walk and three strikeouts.

The Beach Bums used the homerun to score three more runs in the seventh. Brad Vericker drew a walk and Curtis Ledbetter was hit by a pitch to put runners on. Sam Orr drilled his third homer of the season to give Traverse City the 12-4 edge. Jack Nelson, Brett Bostelman, and Nick Pepper all threw scoreless innings to close out the win for the Beach Bums.

The Beach Bums finished with 10 hits in the game. Sam Orr was the Player of the Game after going 2-for-3 with a homer, three runs scored, and three RBI. Curtis Ledbetter and Matt Rademacher also finished with two hits. Jon Cahill was able to clear his bench as Steve Young made his debut in 2007 and was hit by a pitch. Ben Ramsey and R.C. Dickerson also got in the contest. Jeff Long took the loss for Kalamazoo, surrendering nine runs in 5.1 innings of work. He allowed tow of the three homers in the game.

The Beach Bums will return home to meet the Kalamazoo Kings tomorrow night at Wuerfel Park in a 7:05 pm game. The first 500 children through the gates will receive a Beach Bums backpack. RHP Phil Tognetti (1-1, 2.53) will make his second start for the Beach Bums while Kalamazoo will counter with LHP Scott Fogelson (3-3, 3.55). Tim Calderwood will broadcast the game on The Fox FM beginning with the Beach Bums On Deck Show at 6:45 pm.

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Frontier League Stories from July 1, 2007


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