CornBelters take 2nd straight with 11-inning triumph over Beach Bums

Posted on June 29, 2016

(Logo courtesy Normal CornBelters)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters battled back three times and won their second straight contest with a 5-4 victory in 11 innings over the Traverse City Beach Bums on Tuesday night at the Corn Crib.

The Beach Bums struck in the second inning with a lead-off double by Will Kengor, who went to third on a single by Steven Patterson and scored on a double just inside the third base bag by Christian Santisteban. Patterson scored on a ground out by Gaby Juarbe to give the guests an early 2-0 lead.

The CornBelters answered with an unearned run in the third frame when Mitch Elliott led off by reaching on an error, went to second on a fielder’s choice and scored on a single by Santiago Chirino to cut the deficit in half.

The Belters tied the game in the fifth when R.J. Perucki led off with a single and went to second on a walk to Mitch Elliott. On a single by Santiago Chirino that sent Perucki to third, Elliott was caught in a rundown to allow Perucki to beat a throw home to tie the contest at 2-2.

Patterson gave the Beach Bums a 3-2 lead with a home run to right center to lead off the seventh inning. The advantage became 4-2 later in the frame on consecutive two-out doubles by Jeff DeBlieux and Marcos Derkes.

The Belters fought back in their seventh inning with a bases-loaded, no-out, two-run single by Chirino, but the rally fizzled with three strikeouts to keep the game even at 4-4 going to the eighth.

The Belters grabbed the win in the 11th when the runner placed at second base for the international tie breaker, Elliott, was sacrificed to third by Mike Fish and scored when a sharp grounder by Chirino to the drawn-in infield was bobbled.

Race Parmenter (2-1) earned the win with the final two innings in relief. James Ball (0-2) took the loss.

The series continues on Wednesday with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch as right-hander Chris Carmain (2-4, 5.33 ERA) starts for Normal against Traverse City lefty Sasha Kuebel (0-0, 1.50). Broadcast time on WJBC.com is 6:20. Mid-Illini Credit Union Wine Down Wednesday features Glenmark hamburgers as the buy-one-get-one special.

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…