BATS RIDE KACZMAREK’S BAT, EISENMENGER’S ARM TO OPENING DAY WIN OVER MARINERS
LAKE IN THE HILLS — The third time was the charm for the Bats and the NIMBL as the weather finally cooperated after Opening Day was twice postponed due to two straight weekends of cold and rain. The Bats took advantage of the seasonably warm temperatures and some shabby fielding to defeat the Mariners, 10-8, in the Sunday morning opener at Plote Field. Greg Kaczmarek paced the Bats offensive attack with 3 hits and a walk while scoring 4 runs. John Eisenmenger pitched all 7 innings to pick up a complete game Opening Day victory.
The Bats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Eisenmenger and Kaczmarek produced one-out singles and came around to score. Eisenmenger’s courtesy runner Tom Klauba scored for him when Rob Matassa’s ground ball to second base was misplayed, while Kacmarek scored on a Matt Weiss RBI single.
In the second inning the Bats sent 10 batters to the plate en route to a 5-run outburst. Jeff McClellan started the merry-go-round when he singled with one-out and stole second. Bats newcomer Greg Mahlstedt then reached on an error sending McClellan to third. Mike Steffy drove home McClellan with a sharp single to centerfield, while Mahlstedt scored on Klauba’s long double to right-center to increase the Bats lead to 4-0.
Kaczmarek coaxed a two-out walk to load the bases followed by Matassa’s 2-run single plating Steffy and Klauba to make it 6-0. Kaczmarek then scored on Weiss’s second RBI hit in as many innings as the Bats built a 7-0 lead. The Mariners cut the lead to 7-2 in their half of the second with a two-out 2-run double by manager Rob Splitt.
The two teams each scored a run in the third and fourth innings for 9-4 Bats lead. Pete Choe led off the third with a double and came around to score on a two-out throwing error on a Mahlstedt ground ball. The Bats did it again in the fourth when Kacmarek singled with two outs, stole second, and scored on Matassa’s ground ball to third that was misplayed.
The 9-4 lead held until the bottom of the sixth when the Mariners struck for 4 runs as the first four batters reached on hits and eventually came around to score reducing the Bats lead to 9-8.
In the seventh, Kaczmarek picked up his third hit with one out and promptly stole second. Weiss followed with a swinging strike three that was dropped by the catcher, allowing Kaczmarek to advance to third on the throw to first. Manager Tom Paul batted next after replacing an injured Paul Abbinanti in the line up in the sixth inning. With 2 strikes Paul stroked a two out single allowing Kaczmarek to score his fourth run of the game and giving the Bats a much-needed insurance run and a 10-8 lead.
Eisenmenger came out to throw the seventh inning and quickly retired the first two hitters on a ground ball back to the mound and a pop up to Klauba at shortstop. After surrendering a two-out double to Bruce Thorne Eisenmenger faced a hot-hitting Gene Walters who had already touched him for two hits and a walk while scoring 3 of the Mariners 8 runs. Walters popped up to Kaczmarek at third base for the final out and a 10-8 Bats victory.
The Bats (1-0) next game will be at 1:00 PM on Sunday, May 21 against the Lightning (1-0) at Carmel High School in Mundelein, Ill.
STARS OF THE GAME
Back in 2010 the Bats would select the Top Three Stars of the Game after every game. This season they have reinstated that post-game ceremony and it will be listed in every article during the season.
1st Star — Greg Kaczmarek – 3-for-3; 4 runs; 2 stolen bases; 1 walk; Had 4 assists and the game’s final putout at 3B.
2nd Star — Rob Matassa – 1-for-3, including a 2 RBI single; reached twice on groundball errors which resulted in runs; had 4 assists at 2B, including all 3 outs in the fourth inning.
3rd Star — John Eisenmenger – Gained complete game 7-inning victory while throwing 94 pitches; Struck out 3 batters with 1 walk; Scored the first run of the season for the Bats.
BATS DROPPINGS
The Bats are 3-3 on Opening Day since 2017 following Sunday’s victory. Between 2004-2016 the Bats were 2-10-1 on Opening Day …. After winning their opening game the Bats are in a position to match their best start to a season, 2-0 in 2021. They have never opened a season with 3 victories …. Greg Kaczmarek’s 3-hit game was the third time he has had 3-or-more hits in a game for the Bats …. Leadoff man Tom Klauba went 1-for-4 on Sunday and has hit safely in 27 of the 32 games he has played since joining the Bats in 2021 …. The Bats recorded 13 assists against the Mariners, but none by shortstop Tom Klauba who led the Bats in 2022 with 3.5 Assists per 7 innings … Two players made their Bats debuts in Sunday’s game. Paul Abbinanti played 4 innings in CF with 1 putout, while going hitless in 3 at bats, before being pulled with a hamstring injury. Greg Mahlstedt caught all 7 innings with 2 putouts and 2 assists, while reaching base twice on errors and once on a walk …. Error Correction: Last week the consecutive games played listed were all off by three games. The consecutive games played following Sunday’s contest should be Earl Blankenship (85), Tom Paul (53) and John Eisenmenger (37). The next longest current streak belongs to Tony DiBlasi (14).
