By Greg Halbleib
NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters fell to the Schaumburg Boomers on Thursday night in both games of a doubleheader at the Corn Crib on Pete Rose Night in front of a crowd of 5,415. The Belters lost the first game 11-4 while dropping the second game 3-0.
The Boomers started scoring in the first game when Craig Massey hit a two-out two RBI double in the first inning. Kyle Ruchim hit an RBI single to bring in Massey, making the score 3-0.
In the second inning, first baseman Mike Schulze hit a ball back at starter Stephen Frey who was unable to get Schulze out while allowing Jordan Dean to come in to home. Craig Massey hit a two-out RBI as well, bringing the Boomers lead to 5-0.
In the Belters half of the inning, Ozney Guillen hit a fielder’s choice RBI bringing in Richard Lucas to shrink the Boomers’ lead to 5-1.
In the third inning, Frey’s (1-2) night ended. Frey had eight hits, one walk, and five earned runs while striking out one batter.
The Boomers padded their lead with a sacrifice fly from Alexi Colon which allowed Michael Valadez to come home. Mike Schulze also hit a two-out RBI. A passed ball brought in a third run to make the score 8-1.
In the fourth inning, Guillen hit a sacrifice fly which brought in Lucas. Mark Micowski hit a two-out two RBI double late in the inning as well cutting the Boomers lead to 8-4.
The Boomers were unfazed however as they tacked on two of their own off of a homer to left field from Dean to make the score 10-4 in the fifth inning.
In the fifth inning, Boomers starter Brett Mabry (4-2) was relieved by Hideyoshi Otake. Mabry allowed five hits, two walks and struck out two.
The Boomers added an insurance run in the seventh when Willi Martin hit out to right field and brought in Dean to bring the end score to 11-4.
The Boomers scored first in game two. In the third inning, both Dean and Cam Sherrer reached second and third, respectively, on a wild pitch. Shortly after, Colon hit a ball to center field allowing both runners to score, making the score 2-0.
In the fifth inning, Dean hit a two-out RBI single bringing in T.J. Bennett to increase the Boomers lead to 3-0.
After six innings, Belters starter Kevin Brahney’s (4-3) night ended. Brahney gave up five hits, two walks and struck out three.
Boomers starter Raul Jacobson (1-1) pitched a complete seven-inning game allowing six hits and recording six strikeouts.
CornBelters center fielder Mark Micowski was 3-for-4 in the opener but didn’t record a hit in the nightcap to end his club record hitting streak at 24 games.
The CornBelters (28-20) face off with the Frontier Greys (21-24) in Game 1 of a three game series on Friday at 6:35 p.m.
