Beloit Snappers at Clinton Lumberkings
April 29th, 2004
| Beloit |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
2 |
6 |
1 |
| Clinton |
|
|
5 |
0 |
4 |
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
2 |
3 |
X |
|
|
14 |
17 |
0 |
E-Corporan, LOB BEL-6, CLI-12, 2B-Anderson, Bubela, Kinsler, Frostad, Grayson, HR-Frostad
WP-Pena, Volquez, PB-Palmisano, BB-Bubela 3, Richardson, SO-Bubela, Frostad 2
T-2:52, A-616
Clinton Herald
by Jon Gremmels
Flexing their muscles on Steriod Night, the Clinton Lumberkings pounded four Beloit pitchers for season highs of 17 hits and 16 runs Thursday night in a 16-2 Midwest League baseball victory at Alliant Energy Field.
More than a power display, bowever, the Steriod Night promotion featured the Lumberkings displaying keen batting eyes. All but five of their hits were singles, and they also coaxed 11 walks in raising the team batting average from .228 to .240 and the on base percentage from .338 to .352.
"Especially when you get started like we did and you're cashing then in (hitting is contagious)," said third baseman Frostad, who went 3 for 5 with a home run, a double and two runs batted in. "We got a great start, and everyone caught fire."
Every Clinton batter had at least one hit and reached base at least twice, and all but one drove in at least one run. Frostad and Brock Jacobsen had three hits each, Ian Kinsler drove in four runs and Dane Bubela walked three times.
"No doubt, this was our best night at the plate." said leftfielder Larry Grayson, who had a pair of hits. "We were selective at the plate but aggressive too. Even some outs were balls hit hard."
Grayson helped made sure Beloit start Kenneth Durost (1-1), who entered the game with a 0.71 ERA didn't even make it out of the first inning. He left with a ERA of 4.05. Control problems got him into trouble, he walked three of the first five hitters he faced, including Kevin Richardson with the bases loaded, then Grayson and Casey Benjamin got back to back two run hits with two out in the inning to put the Lumberkings ahead 5-0.
"Larry definitely stepped it up with the bases loaded." Benjamin said, "He kept the inning going. i just followed suit." Grayson bounced a two run double down the left field line for a 3-0 lead. "I was taking until I got a strike, " Grayson said, explaining his approach against Durost, who had just struck out Frostad for the second out. "I got a good hack at a 2-0 fastball and fouled it, and he came back with a fastball. he had no room for error and had to come at me."
Benjamin followed with a two run single on a 1-2 pitch. "He got two stikes on me quickly, then got a pitch up." Benjamin said.
The Lumberkings loaded the bases again with singles by Jacobsen and Juan Senreiso, but Luis Pena replaced Durost and struck out Bubela to avoid further damage. It was only a temporary reprieve.
The Lumberkings batted around again in the third inning, scoring four more runs. Frostad and Grayson opened the inning with singles. Jacobsen drove in a run with a one out infield hit, Senreiso singled in a run, Bubela walked to load the bases. Kinsler brought home a run with a fielder's choice groundout and Andrew Wishy singled in a run.
"The second time around, everybody knew this was the night." Grayson said, "You've got to take advantage of that, they don't come around too often."
There was no letdown from the early 9-0 lead, either. "In a game like this, it's easy to lose concentration." Benjamin said. "It's real important to keep your focus." They accomplished that in all three facets.