Bobby Borchering homers and hits a two-run single for a season-high four RBIs

CLINTON, Iowa (AUG. 15, 2013) - The Clinton LumberKings used three straight two-out, ninth-inning singles by catcher Tyler Marlette, third baseman Jordy Lara and first baseman Taylor for a 6-5, walk-off win over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Ashford University Field Thursday night.

The River Bandits (30-21 second half, 68-52 overall) rallied from a 5-2 deficit but suffered their third walk-off loss of the season and third straight defeat overall Quad Cities fell 3 ½ games behind first-place Cedar Rapids in the Midwest League Western Division second-half standings, while Clinton (26-26, 59-62) won its fourth straight game to tie Peoria for third place in the division.

Quad Cities took a first-inning lead, as shortstop Carlos Correa hit a two-out single, and first baseman Bobby Borchering hit the first pitch from left-hander Scott DeCecco over the left-center field fence for his fourth Quad Cities home run and a 2-0 lead.

Right-hander Lance McCullers kept the LumberKings scoreless until the third inning, when a single and two walks loaded the bases before Lara drove a three-run double off the left-field wall to put his team ahead, 3-2. After McCullers allowed a walk and double by second baseman Tim Lopes to start the fourth inning, shortstop Martin Peguero hit a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-2. Peguero and Lara each had three of Clinton's 11 total hits. McCullers allowed five hits and five earned runs with four walks in his four innings.

The River Bandits started to come back against DeCecco in the fifth inning, as center fielder Tony Kemp singled, and right fielder Teoscar Hernandez doubled down the left-field line to put two runners in scoring position. Two batters later, Borchering slapped a one-hopper past Lara for a two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-4. Borchering set a new season high by driving in all four runs against DeCecco, who allowed seven hits in six innings while walking two batters and striking out five.

LumberKings right-hander George Mieses started the seventh inning, and with one out, he hit Hernandez with a pitch. After three wild pitches, Hernandez came across with the tying run for a 5-5 game. However, Mieses prevented the River Bandis from taking the lead after third baseman Rio Ruiz singled and reached third base with one out in the eighth inning. Jochi Ogando (1-3) pitched the ninth.

After the Quad Cities bullpen worked 7 1/3 innings Wednesday, right-hander Andrew Walter made his Midwest League debut in the fifth inning to follow McCullers. Walter gave up three hits and a walk in three scoreless innings to keep the game tied. Right-hander Juan Minaya (1-6) walked the first batter of the eighth inning before getting the next three batters to strand the go-ahead run at third. But in the ninth, he allowed Marlette's two-out bases empty single, and Lara moved Marlette to third with his hit. After defensive indifference allowed Lara to take second, Ard hit a 3-2 pitch to right-center field for the game-winner.

The River Bandits, who are 11-5 against Clinton this season, conclude their season series with the LumberKings in Clinton at 7 p.m. Friday. River Bandits right-hander Chris Devenski (2-2) is scheduled to face LumberKings right-hander David Holman (2-6).

UP NEXT: The first 2,000 fans to Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night will receive a bobblehead of Minnesota Twins first baseman and former River Bandit Justin Morneau, courtesy of Mediacom and the Dispatch-Argus. The 7 p.m. game kicks off a seven-game home stand through Friday, Aug. 23. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses . The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

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Supports scholarships for QC Area College students. Davenport's scenic Mississippi bike path will be the setting for the event scheduled on Saturday, October 5, 2013 @ 9:00am.

Davenport, IA August 1, 2013 - Entrants registered by September 14th will be eligible for the early $25.00 registration fee that includes an Equality 5K Run/Walk T-shirt. A $30.00 fee will be charged after September the 14th. Interested runners should go to www.GetMeRegistered.com or www.qcpride.org to register for the race. Packet pick-up will be from 4:00-7:00pm on Friday, October 4th in the Modern Woodmen Park parking lot west of the stadium. Packets can also be picked up between 7:30-8:30am the day of the race. The 5K route starts at Modern Woodmen Park heading east to the turnaround point near the Boat House on Oneida and back to the staging area. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three runners in the under 50 and 50 plus categories. Children 12 and under will receive participation ribbons.

Profits from the event will fund the QC Pride Scholarships awarded during the 7th Annual QC Pridefest on June 7 & 8, 2014. The scholarship rewards students who demonstrate both academic achievement and leadership as members, friends and allies of the GLBT community. There have been two previous recipients of a $1000 award announced during the 2012 and 2013 festivals. It is the goal of QC Pride to be able to increase the number of scholarships awarded to eligible students and the Equality 5k Run/Walk will help to achieve this goal.

The event also serves as an occasion for the community to get involved as volunteers and/or sponsors. Individuals interested in volunteer and sponsorship opportunities or with additional questions about the event can contact Mike Hetrick by email at Equality5KRunWalk@qcpride.org or phone: 309-798-7700 to request information.

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Keith presented with a proclamation

WHEREAS, Illinois is a leader in supporting the arts, and has always been an important component of the artistic fabric of our state; and,

WHEREAS, there are few forms of music more purely American than the country music genre; and,

WHEREAS, country music, with its themes of rural life, family, hard work, and love for country speaks to Midwestern ideals and Illinois residents can relate to its message; and,

WHEREAS, a country musician who has experienced great success in this genre is Toby Keith; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma to  parents Joan and Hubert; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith began playing music at a young age after being inspired by musicians who worked at his grandmother's supper club; and,

WHEREAS, prior to starting a career in music, Toby Keith worked in the oil industry and played in the USFL football league. His debut album, "Toby Keith,"  produced the most played country song of the 1990s, "Should've Been A Cowboy"; and,

WHEREAS, his follow up records, Boomtown and Blue Moon, were equally successful due to hits "Who's That Man" and "Me Too"; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith's 2002 album, Unleashed, sold 3 million copies and included a duet with Willie Nelson, "Beer For My Horses"; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith's albums have sold more than 36 million copies, ranking him among the top-selling genre artists on Billboard's Top 200 artists of the Decade; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith, aside from enormous commercial success, has received critical acclaim and industry awards including the Songwriter/Artist of the Decade distinction from the Nashville Songwriters Association International as well as the American Country Awards' Artist of the Decade distinction; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith is strongly committed to our nation's veterans and in 2008 played 18 shows for U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf as a part of a U.S.O. Tour; and,

WHEREAS, Toby Keith will perform at the Grandstand of the Illinois State Fair  on Wednesday, August 14^th at 8:00 pm; and,

WASHINGTON, D.C.?U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that three Iowa organizations will receive funding totaling nearly $600,000 to help Iowans sign up for quality, affordable health insurance through the new health insurance marketplace opening in the state on October 1st of this year. These organizations?Genesis Health System, Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa, and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland?will train 'navigators,' who will serve as person resources for unbiased information to consumers about the health insurance marketplace and the benefits available to them under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

"I am pleased to see that these Iowa organizations will receive the necessary resources to train health insurance navigators?who will in turn help the roughly 150,000 Iowans projected to enroll in quality, affordable coverage through our state's health insurance marketplace," Harkin said. "Navigators will play a critical role in educating Iowans about how to select and enroll in a plan that is best for them and their families. The insurance marketplace is a central part of the Affordable Care Act's historic coverage expansion, providing access to coverage to individuals and small businesses currently locked out of the market."

As Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Harkin played a pivotal role in the passage of the ACA. State-based insurance marketplaces, including Iowa's, will allow consumers to shop for, compare, and enroll in private health plans. Consumers will be able to learn if they are eligible for tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, or other health care programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program. Small employers will be eligible to receive tax credits for coverage purchased for employees through the marketplaces. These competitive marketplaces make purchasing health insurance easier and more understandable and offer consumers and small businesses increased competition and choice.

A list of the Iowa organizations receiving Navigator funding, along with the funding totals, is below. This information is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Genesis Health System
Anticipated grant amount: $128,430
Genesis Health System will implement a navigator program through the Genesis Visiting Nurses Association (GVNA). Genesis plans to use existing relationships to aid residents and small business in accessing new sources of coverage.

Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa
Anticipated grant amount: $257,142
The Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa will implement a navigator program serving 38 of Iowa's 99 counties, home to approximately half of the uninsured in Iowa. The Visiting Nurse Services will provide navigator services through public awareness, education and assistance in enrolling individuals in qualified health plans. They also will partner with other organizations with considerable expertise in eligibility, enrollment, and knowledge of other health programs such as Medicaid and CHIP.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland
Anticipated grant amount: $214,427
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (PPHeartland) is a private, non-profit community-based health care agency operating in Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma. In Iowa, PPHeartland plans to have Navigators cover 61 counties and will strategically base Navigators in regions across Iowa.

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