Sunday, May 5 (WEEK 23)

       The Bats fell to the Lightning, 8-2, on Sunday morning at Behm Park in Grayslake.  It was the first time the Bats (0-1-1) had played the Lightning, a new entry into the Northern Illinois Mens Baseball League.

       The game, originally scheduled to be played in Mundelein, was played at Behm Park due to unplayable field conditions at Carmel High School.  The start time was also moved up from noon to 9 a.m., but apparently no one told the Bats bats which were still fast asleep at home during the game.

       The Bats could only muster 4 hits against hard-throwing Mike Rizzo who struck out 12 while walking only 2.  In one stretch Rizzo retired 6 of 7 batters on strikeouts and recorded four 1-2-3 innings during the contest.

       Three of the Bats 4 hits came in the first inning when they scored their only runs to take a 2-0 lead.  Rich Skibski led off with a walk and moved to second on a one-out single by Randy Harris.  Mike Ryan loaded the bases with a two-out hit followed by Don Gragnani's 2-run single to give the Bats the early lead.  Harris would later collect the Bats only other hit in the fourth inning.

       John Moulchin started the game off on the mound with two scoreless innings before the Lightning struck for 3 runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead.  A blister on Moulchin's throwing hand once again forced him to the sidelines as Ken Kozlik took over the pitching chores in the fourth.

       The Bats next game is Sunday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. against the Yard Dogs at Peterson Park in McHenry. The address is 4000 Peterson Park Rd., McHenry, IL.