After a few tough tournaments the Indians look to rebound at North Central College. With a 2-5 start to the season the Indians have experienced their fair share of hardship. In three of their five loses the Indians had the lead in the fifth inning or later. Two of the Indians loses came in extra innings, both the walk off variety.
The Indians have played well but not consistently enough to have a winning record. They have been in a position to win most of their games but have not been able to seal the deal. It is only a matter of time until they put all the pieces together and start stringing together more wins.
Lewis University Champs
On July 17th the Indians won the Championship Game of the College Classic tournament at Lewis University. Taking home the trophy required the Indians to over come an early 5 run deficit against the Illinois Sparks. After a surrendering four runs in the second inning the Indians found themselves in a five run hole. With the first two batters being retired in the bottom half of the second it looked as though the Indians would go into the third trying to keep the Sparks in check. An error by the shortstop gave the Indians life. Following the error four consecutive batters reached base scoring three runs, cutting the sparks lead to just two . With the Sparks tacking on two more quick runs in the top of the third the Indians needed to do something, and fast. After a 1 out single by Jack Wietlispach right fielder Kurtis Kaufman delivered a 2 run Home Run over the centerfield fence bringing the deficit back down to just two runs.
Robert Romano took the mound with 2 outs in the 3rd and held the Sparks in check until he departed in the sixth. Meanwhile the Indians added a run in the fourth on doubles by Danny Barnett and Jeff VonMoser. With the Sparks leading by two runs going into the bottom of the seventh it was now or never for the Indians. Leadoff man Connor Skoczynski reached on an error to get things going. Will Krug followed with a single to bring the winning run to the plate. The Indians caught a break when the catcher over threw the pitcher allowing both runners to advance a base. With the tying run on 2nd base Jake Buhmann delivered a sac fly to left center scoring one run and moving the tying run to 3rd base. Kurtis Kaufman wasted no time tying up the game when he laced a single to right field. Not able to bring the winning run home the game went into extra innings knotted up at 8.
Kevin Stahmer was on the mound for his third inning of work in the top half of the eighth. After a leadoff walk Stahmer picked off the runner at first. Getting the next two batters quietly Stahmer did his job and turned things over to the Indians offense. With one out the Indians took advantage of a defensive miscue for a third time. Doug Beath reached base and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Sparks Third basemen. Anthony Pope who was swinging a hot bat going 8 for his last 11 at bats stepped up to the plate. With a 1-2 count Pope lined a single into center scoring the game winning run, the Indians stormed the field in excitement and walked off Champions.
On the weekend the Indians went 5-0.
Game 1
Illinois Crush 3 - Illinois Indians 5
Game 2
Hitting Center 3 - Illinois Indians 11
Game 3
Athletic barn 1 - Illinois Indians 11
Game 4
Athletic Barn 3 - Illinois Indians 11
CHAMPIONSHIP
Illinois Sparks 8 - Illinois Indians 9
Tribe Takes Second in Great Lakes Championship
After a shaky opening game in which the Indians watched a 2-2 tied turn into a 12-2 loss the Indians won their next 4 games and advanced to the championship game. During this stretch the Indians won every which way one could imagine whether it was outstanding defensive plays, great pitching performances or an overwhelming offense the Indians found ways to win.
Indians vs. Wiers Baseball
6/24/2011
Robert Romano threw 6 innings without allowing an earned run. Jack Wietlispach was a double shy of the cycle in his 3 hit performance. With 4 RBI on the day Jack's biggest hit was his 7th inning 3 run shot. This put the game out of reach for Wiers Baseball and the Indians cruised to a victory.
Final: Indians 8 - Wiers Baseball 2
Indians vs. Dupage Titans
6/25/2011
The Indians had their foot on the gas against the Titans. After a 5 run 1st inning which was ignited by Lead off man Connor Skoczynski's first of 3 hits the Indians came right back in the 2nd inning with 7 more runs. This Inning was capped off by a 3 run blast off of Doug Beath's bat. In the 3rd inning there was a slight shift in momentum, the Titans scored 5 and the Indians first two hitters were retired on lazy fly balls. Anthony Pope worked a crucial two out walk, after a Kurtis Kaufman single Jack Wietlispach hit his second 3 run home run in as many days. The Indians held the Titans in check from that point on and recorded a 10 run mercy rule victory.
Final: Indians 16 - Dupage Titans 6
18U Indians vs. 17U Indians
6/26/2011
The showdown between two teams in the same organization proved to be the nail biter everyone was expecting. Brad Coffman started the game for the 18U Indians after allowing 2 early runs it looked like Brad was going to settle down for a nice outting. Things did not go as planned when Brad took a line drive off the right forearm forcing him out of the game in the 3rd inning. The Indians turned to Brendan Shine and could not have been more pleased with his performance. Brendan only gave up 1 run on 2 hits in 4 1/3 innings. After the 18U squad tied the game in the top of the 4th inning the 17U team took the lead right back by scoring one in the bottom half. In the 5th inning the Indians one and two hitters took care of business as Connor Skoczynski hit a lead off triple and Will Krug drove a sacrifice fly into left field to tie the game. Heading into the 6th inning with the game tied Danny Barnett got things started with a single. After a groundout and a Brendan Shine single Doug Beath came up big with an RBI single to take the lead. Connor and Will capped off the 3 run inning with back to back 2 out RBI singles giving the Indians a 6-3 lead.
Final: 18U Indians 6 - 17U Indians 3
18U Indians vs. Southside Thunder
6/26/2011
Jerry Silva only allowed 2 runs while throwing a complete game to propel the Indians into the championship round. Trailing by one run in the 4th inning Will Krug led things off with a double down the right field line, he later scored on a 2 out single off the bat of Anthony Pope. After the Thunder scored in the 6th to take a one run lead the top of the Indians line-up got things going again. Skoczynski led the inning off with a single and advanced to second base on a Krug sac bunt. Jack Wietlispach drove him home with a triple to right center. With two outs Anthony Pope lined a shot to center which trickled out of the fielders glove allowing the go ahead run to score. In the 7th inning the Thunder's first two hitters reached base safely. With two outs and runners at first and second the Thunder's 9 hitter lined a single to center field. Will Krug came up throwing and let go of a perfect strike to the chest of catcher Danny Barnett to nail the tying run and provide the final out of the game.
Final: Indians 3 - Thunder 2
Indians Win Season Opener
6/12/2011
In their first game of the season the Indians played the 22U Elgin Aces at Maine East High School. Robert Romano took the hill for the Tribe and breezed through the first 3 innings only allowing one hit. However in the fourth Romano hit a rough patch and battled to escape with his team only trailing by one run. In the 6th inning the Aces tacked on two more runs to go up by three. In the bottom half of the sixth the Indians came right back and by manufacturing three runs off of two RBI groundouts and a clutch two out double off the bat of Silva. With the game knotted up in the 7th the Indians turned to Brendan Shine to hold down the Aces. He was able to get out of the 7th unscathed after surrendering a leadoff double. Thanks to three walks, a hit by pitch and a 2 out single off the bat of Kurtis Kaufman the Indians found themselves up by three runs going into the 8th. Brendan Shine was able to shut the door on the Aces in the 8th and 9th inning to preserve a one run victory, the Indians first of the season!
