CornBelters use big 7th, 10 strikeouts from Gillies for win

Posted on July 28, 2016

By WJBC Staff

WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Normal CornBelters broke open a tie game with a four-run seventh inning to support a 10-strikeout performance by Charlie Gillies for a 6-2 win over the Washington Wild Things on Wednesday at CONSOL Energy Park.

The CornBelters struck first in the second inning when Craig Lepre singled, went to second on a walk and to third on a wild pitch and scored on a failed double play.

The Belters added a run in the fifth when Ty Morris singled, stole second and third and came home on a double to right center by Aaron Dudley.

The Wild Things broke onto the board in the sixth inning when Chris Grayson led off with a single, stole second and scored on a throwing error. Washington tied the game later in the frame on a two-out single to left by Kyle Pollock.

The CornBelters took the lead in the seventh when Morris led off with a single, was sacrificed to second and scored on a Santiago Chirino double to right field. Nolan Meadows sent both men home with a triple to right center field followed by an infield single by Craig Lepre to put the Belters ahead 6-2.

Gillies (3-1) twirled six and two-thirds innings for the win, giving up two runs on five hits with four walks and 10 strikeouts. Sam Agnew-Wieland (2-2) took the loss, giving up three earned runs in one-third of an inning.

The Belters return to the Corn Crib for a series Friday, Saturday and Sunday against the Lake Erie Crushers, but first the road trip concludes with a 6:05 p.m. Central Thursday first pitch in suburban Pittsburgh. The CornBelters send Mike Schweiss (5-4, 2.81 ERA) to the hill against the Wild Things’ Trevor Foss (8-3, 2.33) in a match-up of right-handers. The game can be heard live on WJBC.com beginning at 5:50.

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…