BATS STRIKE LIGHTNING WITH SOLID DEFENSE AND KLAUBA’S NEAR CYCLE FOR SECOND WIN
MUNDELEIN — The Bats racked up 14 hits and 7 walks while turning 3 double plays in the field en route to an 11-2 victory over the Lightning (1-1) in a Sunday afternoon game at Carmel High School. The Bats (2-0) are now at the top of the 48s standings, while the Lightning (1-1) is tied for second with the Marauders (1-1).
Shortstop Tom Klauba set the tone for the Bats offense with a leadoff triple to right center to start the game and was driven home on John Eisenmenger’s ground ball to third. Klauba would go on to add a single and double, scoring on both occasions, to lead the Bats attack.
In the bottom of the first, right hander Eisenmenger walked the first two batters he faced, but was quickly bailed out when second baseman Rob Matassa snagged a line drive and caught the runner off first base for a double play. The following batter grounded out to third baseman Greg Kaczmarek ending the first inning with the Bats leading, 1-0. Eisenmenger benefitted from another DP in the second inning as Klauba, Matassa and first baseman Tom Paul pulled off one of the 6-4-3 variety.
The Bats scored 3 more runs in the third highlighted by a bases loaded 2-run single by Matassa and a 2-out RBI single by Earl Blankenship. The Lightning came back with 2 unearned runs in the bottom half of the frame to make it 4-2, but that was as close as they would get.
The score remained 4-2 until the fifth inning when the Bats took advantage of a pitching change and scored 2 runs on a leadoff double by Klauba followed by a wild pitch, a walk, a double steal, an error and a passed ball, for a 6-2 lead.
In the sixth the Bats plated 5 more runs in an inning that included 5 stolen bases, 3 walks, a hit batsman and 3 consecutive singles to close out the scoring. Trailing 11-2 in their half of the sixth, the Lightning failed to score off of Eisenmenger before the game was halted to allow the playoff-bound Carmel High School baseball team to take the field for a rare Sunday practice.
The Bats (2-0) next game will be at 10:00 AM on Sunday, May 28 against the Marauders (1-1) at Krisk Park- Stan Tortenson Field in Genoa City, Wisc.
STARS OF THE GAME
It’s always a welcome problem to have when the team has trouble selecting the Top 3 Stars of the game because so many were in the post-game conversation. But whittle it down to three we did.
1st Star — Tom Klauba – 3-for-3; 3 runs; 2 stolen bases; 1 HBP; had a “near cycle” — single, double and triple.
2nd Star — John Eisenmenger – Gained his second complete game victory surrendering 7 hits with 11 outs coming from groundballs. 1-for-2 at the plate; 3 runs; 1 RBI; 2 walks.
3rd Star — Greg Mahlstedt – 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk, a run, and 2 stolen bases. Was a virtual brick wall behind the plate, blocking several tough pitches in the dirt to prevent runners from advancing or scoring.
Honorable Mentions — Rob Matassa – 3-for-3 with a walk; 2 RBI; participated in 3 DPs at second base with 6 putouts and 5 assists. Paul Abbinanti – 2-for-4; 2 RBI; 1 stolen base; 1 walk.
BATS DROPPINGS
John Eisenmenger followed Tom Klauba’s first-inning leadoff triple with a ground ball to third resulting in an out call at first base. Replays from several different angles, however, clearly showed he beat the throw to first. .... The 2-0 start to the season marks only the second time the Bats began with two straight victories (2021 was the other). A win in their next game would mark an unprecedented 3-0 start to a Bats season …. Tom Klauba’s 3-hit game was the 10th time he has had 3-or-more hits in a game for the Bats. …. Klauba’s “near cycle” (single, double, triple) was the 7th time a Bats player accomplished that feat in a game, missing only the HR. That list includes Randy Harris (2006, 2009), Tim Scotellaro (2009), Bruce Marchionda (2010), Don Gragnani (2015) and Klauba (2021, 2023). John Moulchin also had a “near cycle” in 2011, but he had a single, double and home run, missing only the 3-bagger. …. Newcomers Paul Abbinanti and Greg Mahlstedt each collected 2 hits in the game, their first hits in a Bats uniform.
