Harris Hits For Cycle in Game One of Doubleheader Sweep of Grizzlies

WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 17) - For the first 16 seasons of Wild Things baseball, no player had ever hit for the cycle. That changed in the first game of tonight’s doubleheader sweep of the Gateway Grizzlies, when center fielder James Harris went 4-5 with a single, double, triple and home run. Also in the win, Wild Things' manager Gregg Langbehn recorded his 600th managerial win.

The Wild Things (4-2) beat Gateway (4-2) 11-4 in the first game of the doubleheader, and grinded out a 1-0 win in the second game.

In game one, the Grizzlies drew first blood in the top of the first, when first

baseman Trae Santos drove in center fielder and leadoff hitter Matt Hearn with a single. The Wild Things offense responded right away, however, when Harris led off the bottom of the first with his third home run of the season to start his historic day at the plate.

With one out in the bottom of the second, catcher Kyle Pollock tripled. Two batters later, shortstop Brett Marr gave Washington the lead with a sacrifice fly. The Wild Things added on when, with two outs, left fielder Roman Collins drove in two runs with a single to make it 4-1. Gateway got a run back in the next half inning with Santos’ second RBI single of the game, which scored left fielder Cody Livesay.

Washington busted the game open in its next at-bat when Harris’ day continued with a bases-clearing triple, making it 7-2. However, the Grizzlies wouldn’t go away. In the fourth, after Cunningham retired the first two batters, Gateway struck for two runs on four-straight singles, with Hearn and Livesay driving in the runs.

Wild Things’ starter Chase Cunningham departed after four innings, allowing four earned runs on eight singles while walking three and not recording a strikeout. Davis Adkins relieved Cunningham, working out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam to get Washington out of the half-inning with an 8-4 lead.

Washington added to its lead in the bottom half of the fifth when Collins scored on a wild pitch. The Wild Things got more insurance in their next at bat, with shortstop Brett Marr’s first home run of the season—a solo shot—making it 9-4. After Harris doubled to complete the cycle, he stole third and came around to score on an RBI groundout by designated hitter Mick Fennell. One batter later, Collins added to the scoring with Washington’s third home run of the evening.

Washington completed a productive offensive showing with an RBI single by first baseman Reydel Medina. Frank Trimarco and Sam Mersing pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings to preserve the win.

For the Grizzlies, starting pitcher Mike Ellwood took the loss, allowing eight runs—six earned—on nine hits over 3.1 innings.

In the second game, after Gateway starter Alec Kisena struck out the side in the first inning, Washington broke through in the second when a single by first baseman Reydel Medina scored second baseman Carter McEachern.

 That was all the scoring Washington would need to complete the doubleheader sweep and a series win. Starting pitcher Thomas Dorminy was excellent on the mound, pitching six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 for his first win of 2018. Zach Strecker picked up his second save of the year, allowing just an infield single in the ninth.

For Gateway, Alec Kisena took the loss despite throwing six innings and allowing just one-run on two hits while walking a batter and striking out nine.

The Wild Things will be back on the road for a three-game series with the Lake Erie Crushers. The first contest will be tomorrow night at 7:05.

Box Score (Game One): http://frontier.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscoretext.html?gameid=443545

Box Score (Game Two): http://frontier.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscoretext.html?gameid=443546

AROUND THRE FRONTIER LEAGUE

Joliet Slammers 7 def. Evansville Otters 2

Last night marked the first win for the Joliet Slammers this series as they rolled to a 7-2 decision over the Evansville Otters. Joliet (1-5) started strong in the bottom of the first inning with three runs off two hits. Designated hitter Justin Garcia had a big game, bringing in a run in the second inning and then hitting a home run in the fourth. Center fielder Travis Bolin and second baseman Ridge Hoopii-Haslam also put runs on the board for the Slammers in the seventh inning. Evansville’s (3-3) Andrew Zellner pitched five innings of shutout ball and allowed five hits before being relieved by Corey Kimber, while Joliet went through five pitchers during the game. Evansville faces the Normal CornBelters (1-5) at home this weekend, and Joliet will host the Windy City ThunderBolts (4-1).

Windy City ThunderBolts 5 def. Florence Freedom 0

Windy City pitcher Patrick Ledet tossed seven strong innings without allowing a run to help the ThunderBolts to a 5-0 win over the Florence Freedom. The ThunderBolts’ (4-1) offense was on fire in the first inning, notching four runs. Left fielder David Oppenheim’s triple to center field plated designated hitter Riley Krane and catcher Larry Balkwill, who would go on to score again in the bottom of the sixth. The ThunderBolts will face off against the Joliet Slammers (1-5) next for a three-game series in Joliet, while the Florence Freedom host Gateway (4-2).

Lake Erie Crushers 2 def. Normal CornBelters 0

The Lake Erie Crushers secured a sweep Thursday, defeating the Normal CornBelters 2-0. After three scoreless innings, left fielder Sean Hurley hit a home run to get the Crushers (4-2) on the board. The Crushers got their second run of the night in the bottom of the eighth when third baseman Dane Hutcheon batted in catcher Bryan DeLaRosa. Lake Erie made a pitching substitution at the top of the eighth inning when Max Biedrzycki relieved Donald Murray, who pitched seven scoreless innings. Pitcher Justin Sinibaldi finished the game for the Crushers after coming in for a save opportunity. Lake Erie will stay home this weekend to host the Washington Wild Things (4-2) for a three-game series, and the Normal CornBelters head to Evansville (3-3) to play the Otters.

River City Rascals 6 def. Traverse City Beach Bums 5

River City’s shortstop Taylor Love had the walk-off, two-run hit in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Rascals to a 6-5 win against the Traverse City Beach Bums. River City started strong, scoring four runs in three innings to start the game. Despite being down four runs, the Traverse City offense came alive and scored five runs in the following three innings. Traverse City’s Donald Glover Jr. had a big night, hitting a home run in the top of the fifth inning to score two runs for the Beach Bums. This weekend, Traverse City will travel to Schaumburg, Illinois to play the Schaumburg Boomers. River City will travel to Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois to play the Southern Illinois Miners.

Schaumburg Boomers 4 def. Southern Illinois Miners 0

Schaumburg Boomers’ pitcher Steven Ridings struck out 10 batters over 6.2 innings to help the team shutout the Southern Illinois Miners 4-0. Ridings was relieved by James Mulry in the top of the seventh inning. The Boomers scored once in the sixth inning on a hit from right fielder Clint Hardy. In the seventh, they would score again on a double from catcher James Keller. The series between the Miners and the Boomers ends with two victories for Schaumburg and one for Southern Illinois. The Schaumburg Boomers head home to host Traverse City this weekend, and Southern Illinois will host River City.