By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters exploded early and often on Friday night at the Corn Crib to start their series against the Washington Wild Things in a 13-2 victory for their eighth straight win.
The Belters took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Mark Micowski came home on a sacrifice hit from Aaron Dudley. Santiago Chirino scored the second run on a Cameron Monger single.
The Wild Things struck back in the second inning when Scott Kalamar hit a home run to center field to cut the Belters lead to 2-1.
The Belters countered in their half of the inning when Micowski hit an RBI single to bring in Jason Merjano. Dudley smashed a ball that one-hopped the fence for an RBI double. Pat McKenna hit an RBI single to bring in Dudley. Sam Judah hit out to shallow left bringing home McKenna and giving the Belters a 6-1 lead.
In the third inning, the Wild Things scored another run when Kalamar hit an RBI single to bring in Andrew Heck bringing the score to 6-2.
Jacob Westerhouse came out in the bottom of the third to relieve Wild Things starter Jeremy Holcombe (1-2). Holcombe threw two innings allowing seven hits and one walk with four earned runs.
The Belters continued to pour on the runs in the fourth inning when Monger hit an RBI groundout to bring home Chirino. Judah also hit an RBI single to bring home McKenna making the score 8-2.
In the fifth inning, the Belters added to their lead when Merjano came home on an error that saw Micowski go to third base. Dudley drove in Micowski on a fielder’s choice that did not result in an out. Chirino came home on a wild pitch making the score 11-2.
In the sixth inning, Jim Vahalik hit an RBI double to bring in Ozney Guillen. Micowski later hit and RBI single to bring home Vahalik and push the score to 13-2.
Belters starter Kevin Johnson’s (6-4) night came to an end at the top of the eighth inning when Cody Gappa came on in relief. Johnson threw seven innings with seven hits, one homer, two walks and five strikeouts.
The Belters (45-31) stretch their lead in the Frontier League West Division to three games over the Rockford Aviators and River City Rascals. The Belters return to the Corn Crib on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. for game two of the series with the Washington Wild Things (32-44). The Belters send Frontier League active strikeout leader Mike Schweiss (5-7, 3.35 ERA) to the bump Saturday while the Wild Things will use the services of lefty Tim Flight (3-6, 3.66).
