Sunday, April 28 (WEEK 2)

       The Bats used two 5-run outbursts to erase an early 9-0 deficit and forced a 13-13 tie with the Grays in their opening game at Peterson Park in McHenry.

       Last year's team MVP Don Gragnani paced the 17-hit attack with a 4-for-4 performance followed by Ken Kozlik with 3 hits and John Moulchin, Dave Krizanovic and Rich Skibski with 2 hits apiece.  Gragnani's four safeties included two doubles, the second of which drove in 2 runs in the bottom of the seventh to knot the score at 13-13.  Each team went scoreless in the eighth inning as the game was halted to allow for another scheduled game on the field.

       Starting pitcher Moulchin was testing out a new set of knees after missing all of last season following a double knee replacement.  The hard-throwing right-hander looked impressive after the long layoff, but a double in the first inning and another in the third left him trailing, 3-0, after three innings.  Moulchin went back out for the fourth inning, but gave up two walks and was forced to leave the game with a blister on his throwing hand.  He was replaced by Kozlik who was promptly victimized by a couple of defensive lapses.  The Grays took full advantage of the Bats miscues and went on to score 6 runs to take a commanding 9-0 lead.

       Kozlik wasted little time starting a comeback, however, when he led off the bottom of the frame with a single.  This was followed by a fielder's choice, another single and another fielders choice leaving the Bats with 2 outs and runners at the corners.  The Bats then got successive singles from Gragnani, Andy Liebmann, and Tony DiBlasi to pull within 9-3.  A walk to Denny Prosperi followed by a misplayed fly ball in left field brought in 2 more runs for an awakened Bats offense.

       The crafty Kozlik settled down after the fourth inning, allowing only 4 runs over the final four innings of the contest, and keeping his team within striking distance.

       The Bats entered the bottom of the seventh trailing, 13-8, but struck for 5 runs to tie the game and force the extra frame.  Rookie Mike Anagnostopoulos led off the inning with a double to right center.  He later scored on an RBI single b y Kozlik, followed by a 2-run double by Randy Harris pulling the Bats to within 2 runs.  Gragnani capped the scoring with a two-out 2-run double to pull the Bats even.

* * * * * *

For game details click on the Box Score and Summary of the Last Game in the upper left hand corner.

 * * * * * *

The Bats next game is Sunday, May 5 at 12:00 p.m. against the Lightning at Carmel High School in Mundelein. The address is 1 Carmel Parkway, Mundelein, IL.