KACZMAREK'S ARM, PROSPERI'S BAT LEAD BATS TO FIRST VICTORY
WOODSTOCK — The Algonquin Bats scored 4 runs in the top of the 7th inning to snap a 2-2 tie en route to their first victory of the season at Emricson Park. Newcomer Greg Kaczmarek picked up the complete game victory by scattering 9 hits with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts, while Bats elder statesman Denny Prosperi broke the tie with a one-out 2-run single over the third base bag in the final frame.
The Bats (1-4) had started their season off with four straight losses while being outscored 59-14. Coupled with a rash of injuries the Bats season was looking bleak forcing manager Rich Skibski to make a roster move. The winless Bats picked up Kaczmarek, a veteran player from the nearby Fab-50's League, and his impact was felt immediately.
Kaczmarek held the Cubs (2-3) to just 2 runs (1 earned) despite allowing 9 hits. The Cubs had at least one base runner in each inning, but the crafty right-hander repeatedly stopped the scoring threats with clutch strikeouts and harmless ground balls. By the time the smoke cleared the Cubs had left 12 runners on base including 8 in scoring position.
The home team Cubs drew first blood with a run in the second inning when Steve Pirtle singled, stole second, and scored on a couple of misplayed ground balls. They threatened to blow the game open early when they continued to load the bases with one out. Kaczmarek proceeded to strikeout the next batter and then induced a ground ball out to second base to minimize the damage.
The Bats countered the Cubs tally with 2 runs in the top of the third following Wayne Sommer's leadoff single and 3 errors by the usually steady Cubs defense. Earl Blankenship later drove in the second run with a ground out.
Kaczmarek made the 2-1 lead hold up until the bottom of the sixth when the Cubs scored an unearned run to knot the score at 2-2. Leadoff hitter John Rivelli reached on an error and came around to score on Refugio Camacho's one-out single leaving runners on first and second. Once again Kaczmarek ended the threat with a strikeout and ground out to second setting the stage for some last inning heroics
Through the first six innings the Cubs pitchers had not walked a batter. That all changed in the seventh when the Bats first two hitters, Mike Steffy and Kaczmarek, drew free passes. After Sommer bounced into a fielder's choice Skibski walked to load the bases for Prosperi. The 21-year NIMBL veteran cracked a sharp ground ball just over the bag past the Cubs third baseman plating Kaczmarek and Sommer for a 4-2 lead. The Bats went on to score 2 more runs, the final coming on an RBI single by Blankenship, to move ahead 6-2.
The Cubs threatened again in the seventh with a couple of base hits but failed to score sending the Bats to their first win of the season.
The Bats next game will be on Sunday, June 30 at 10:00 a.m. against the Angels at Wauconda High School in Wauconda, Ill.
BATS DROPPINGS
The Bats stole 8 bases in Sunday's victory. The last time the Bats stole 8 bases in a game was the second game of last season in an 11-8 loss to the Yard Dogs on May 6 .... Rookie Harry Mielke put on a fielding clinic at first base with several nice picks, a couple of pop ups caught and a great play on a hard smash ground ball to save a run in the third inning .... The Bats 2 strikeouts were their fewest in a game this season ....The injury list for the Bats continues to mount as Tony DiBlasi (knee), Rob Matassa (shoulder), Tim Niesen (hamstring) and Ron Skrabacz (shoulder) are all nursing injuries of various degrees.
