CornBelters sweep Aviators, trim magic number to 2

Posted on August 31, 2015

By Greg Halbleib

ROCKFORD – The Normal CornBelters completed a three-game sweep of the Rockford Aviators with a 10-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Aviators Stadium.

The CornBelters used a two-out rally in the opening frame to take an early lead after Aaron Dudley walked and Pat McKenna singled followed by an RBI base hit by Richard Lucas. Cameron Monger homered to left center field in the second inning to increase the lead to 2-0.

The Belters pushed the advantage to 3-0 when McKenna was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth inning, went to third on a Lucas double and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Sam Judah. McKenna doubled to the left field corner in the seventh to drive in Tyler Shover and a 4-0 lead.

Belters starter Jake Negrete allowed only one hit in his first six innings, but the Aviators recorded three straight hits in the seventh to cut their deficit to 4-1 on an RBI single by Dusty Robinson.

Shover led off a six-run ninth inning with an insurance home run to right center followed by RBI doubles by Jason Merjano and McKenna plus a three-run homer by Lucas for the final tallies.

Negrete (3-0) earned the win with five hits through eight innings, striking out six without a walk. Rockford starter David Diaz (1-5) took the loss.

The CornBelters return to the Corn Crib after Monday off to finish the regular season with a six-game home stand and an opportunity to clinch the Frontier League West Division. The Evansville Otters visit Tuesday through Thursday in a big series for both teams followed by a weekend set with the defending champion Schaumburg Boomers. Tuesday’s broadcast on WJBC.com begins at 6:20 p.m. from the Corn Crib.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…