BATS OUTHIT MARAUDERS, BUT LOSE, 8-3, AT PLOTE FIELD

LAKE IN THE HILLS — The Bats dropped their second game of the season, 8-3, to the Marauders despite outhitting them, 9-7, at Plote Field on Friday evening.  The Marauders were the recipients of 10 free passes as Bats pitchers issued 6 walks and hit 4 batters leading to 5 of their 8 runs.  The loss dropped the Bats to 1-2 while the Marauders evened their record at 1-1.

Greg Kaczmarek, John Eisenmenger and manager Tom Paul each collected 2 hits to pace the Bats hitting attack, while Tom Klauba, Matt Weiss and Harry Mielke each added a hit to round out the offense.

Weiss was on the mound to start the game for the Bats allowing 2 runs in the first.  He was aided by a strong throw from center fielder Kaczmarek to cut down a runner at the plate ending the inning without further damage.  After pitching a scoreless second, Weiss struggled with control in the third and allowed 2 more runs as Kaczmarek relieved him with one out to finish the inning.  Kaczmarek pitched the rest the game, allowing 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The Bats scored a run in the second when Jeff McClellan scored on Klauba’s 2-out bases loaded single.  They added a run in the third when Weiss scored on Earl Blankenship’s ground out to cut the Marauder’s lead to 4-2.  Their final run came in the fifth when Kaczmarek and Eisenmenger led off the frame with singles.  Kaczmarek made it to third on an errant throw by the right fielder on Eisenmenger’s hit and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-3.

Despite the loss, there was a bright spot for the Bats.  After committing 8 errors in their first two games, the Bats played errorless baseball in the loss.  Third baseman Eisenmenger put on a fielding clinic in the fifth with two strong long throws to nip the runners and knocked down a scorched line drive with the bases loaded in the sixth resulting in a force at third base.  First baseman Weiss made a couple of nice plays on the other side of the field, including a cat-like save of a hard throw in the dirt that kicked up over his left shoulder to end the seventh inning.

The Bats (1-2) next game will be at 1:30 PM on Sunday, June 12 against the Lightning at Carmel High School in Mundelein, Ill. 

BATS DROPPINGS

The 9 hits by the Bats were their most in a game so far in the 2022 season giving them 19 hits in 3 games with no extra-base hits.  Last year, after the 3 games, the Bats had amassed a total of 37 safeties, including 6 for extra bases …. Greg Kaczmarek’s throw to the plate to end the first inning was the Bats first outfield assist of the year.  Last year the Bats had 5 outfield assists in 19 games. …. The Marauders continue their dominance over the Bats.  Since 2007, when they were the Intimidators (2007-13) and then the Marauders (2014-22), the Bats are just 1-30 in the rivalry (record does not include 1 forfeit win and 1 forfeit loss) …. Bats pitchers have already hit 6 batters in their first 3 games.  Last season the Bats plunked only 11 batters in 19 games …. Congratulations to Earl Blankenship who extended his consecutive game playing streak to 70 games.  He could pass Don Gragnani’s team record of 113 games late in the 2024 season.