24 Apr 2015

BANDITS GET FIRST SWEEP IN PEORIA SINCE 2011

By Marco LaNave

Quad Cities overcomes 3-0 deficit to achieve its best 15-game start since 2001

 

PEORIA, Ill. (April 23, 2015) - The Peoria Chiefs took a 3-0 lead through the first four innings Thursday night, but the Quad Cities River Bandits scored once in the fifth and sixth innings, and twice in the eighth inning, and right-hander Daniel Mengden pitched four scoreless relief innings for his first professional win in a 4-3 victory and the club's first series sweep at Dozer Park since Aug. 24-26, 2011.

The three-run deficit was the largest erased by Quad Cities (12-3) this season. The club has eight comeback wins and sole possession of the Midwest League Western Division lead for a sixth straight day. The team has won 12 of its first 15 games for the first time since 2001.

Chiefs right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon, who beat Quad Cities April 11, pitched a perfect first inning. In the bottom of the first inning against Quad Cities right-hander Austin Chrismon, Chiefs shortstop Oscar Mercado chopped an infield single to third baseman Kristian Trompiz, who threw past first base to allow Mercado to reach second base. Mercado then stole third base and scored an unearned run on a groundout by third baseman Andrew Sohn for a 1-0 Peoria lead.

In the second inning, Poncedeleon began by allowing back-to-back singles by designated hitter Mott Hyde and first baseman Jacob Nottingham before retiring the next three batters. In the third inning with two outs, Poncedeleon allowed a single by catcher Alfredo Gonzalez and double by right fielder Sean McMullen but escaped the jam when Hyde flied out to left field.

The Chiefs (8-7) added to their lead in the fourth inning, when Sohn and first baseman Justin Ringo started with back-to-back singles. Chrismon got a flyout and struck out designated hitter Alex DeLeon on a wild pitch that moved Sohn and Ringo into scoring position. With the infield shifted against catcher Steve Bean, a ground ball to the right side brought second baseman Alex Hernandez charging in from shallow right field, but he threw past first base, bringing in both Sohn and Ringo to make it 3-0. Chrismon retired the next four batters to finish five innings, allowing three unearned runs on five hits and no walks with six strikeouts.

Quad Cities' comeback began against Poncedeleon in the fifth inning, when shortstop Thomas Lindauer drew a one-out walk. With two outs, Lindauer stole his first base of the season on a 0-2 pitch to catcher Alfredo Gonzalez, who worked a 3-2 count and hit the ninth pitch of the at-bat to right field for an RBI single. In the sixth inning, Hyde hit a leadoff double and went to third base on Poncedeleon's wild pitch before scoring on Nottingham's groundout to cut the deficit to 3-2. Hernandez then singled to end Poncedeleon's start after he had allowed two earned runs on seven hits and one walk with seventh strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Right-hander Tyler Bray (1-1) retired the next two batters to end the inning.

With the visitors trailing, 3-2, Lindauer began the go-ahead rally in the seventh inning with a leadoff single to left field against Bray. Center fielder Bobby Boyd sacrificed Lindauer to second base, and Gonzalez drew a four-pitch walk. Bray was removed for left-hander Nick Lomascolo, whose first pitch got past Bean for a passed ball that allowed both runners to advance. McMullen popped up for the second out, but Hyde worked a walk, with the last pitch being wild through the legs of Bean to allow Lindauer to score the tying run and Gonzalez to reach third base. With Nottingham at bat, Lomascolo threw another wild pitch that scored Gonzalez for the go-ahead run. Both runs were charged to Bray, while Lomascolo had a blown save for his outing of 1 2/3 hitless innings with three walks and two wild pitches.

After losing a start April 11 at Dozer Park, Mengden (1-1) began the sixth inning with a deficit but had a lead in the seventh. In the eighth and ninth innings, Peoria put the leadoff batter on base and advanced him with a sacrifice and groundout to third base with two outs, but Mengden struck out Ringo to end the eighth inning and got pinch hitter Danny Diekroeger to ground out to Hernandez to end the game.

The River Bandits open a six-game, seven-day homestand at 7 p.m. Friday at Modern Woodmen Park. In the opener of a three-game series with Burlington, River Bandits right-hander Joshua James (0-0) is scheduled to face Bees left-hander Sean Newcomb (1-0).

UP NEXT: Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities and WLLR present the first Friday Fireworks of the season following the 7 p.m. game Friday at Modern Woodmen Park. It is also Legends of Rock Night for the opener of the six-game, seven-day homestand. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

*****

24 Apr 2015

5 Tips For Improving a Kid's Game

By Rick Martin
Streetball Legend 'The Professor' Offers His Advice

There are many would-be athletes in their adolescence, but factors such as size and ability often preempt their efforts.

Today, legendary streetballer Grayson "The Professor" Boucher stands 5'10" tall and weighs in at 150 pounds - not exactly big by today's basketball standards, even for a point guard. But what he lacks in stature Boucher more than makes up for in dedication, drive and love of the game.

"I was smaller in high school, which meant I really had to prove myself to earn the starting varsity position at point guard," says Boucher, who won the position and later was given the moniker "The Professor" for his uncanny ability to "school" opponents, whether while playing organized basketball or while playing pickup streetball games.

Many of The Professor's antics have been cataloged and can be found on YouTube. At the heart of his "lectures" on the court is superhuman ball-handling skills and an ability to control the basketball when opponents least expect it.

"Basketball was always going to be part of my career, but you don't have to be a professional streetballer to make mastering an athletic skill worthwhile," he says. "Sports teach young people discipline and confidence, offer a form of expression, and keep kids in shape and out of trouble."

The Professor offers tips for how to improve a kid's game.

•  Footwork is key. When trying to master certain aspects of the game, especially when it comes to offense, mastering the footwork is key. Once the footwork for a move is understood, it becomes easier to practice and emulate the move. Things to help understand great footwork are watching great players play with a close eye, taking note of how they execute moves with their feet and watching footwork in slow motion on TiVo or a smartphone.

•  Get used to staying low. In basketball you want to protect the ball. Tall players are taught to keep the ball high and out of reach for smaller pickpocket defenders. If you stay low when making your move to the basket, this will maximize explosion and quickness, but it also makes stealing the ball much more difficult against defenders. Also, some of the best moves are made below the knees.

•  Power your hands; check out POWERHANDZ (POWERHANDZ.com). Some of the best players spent a considerable amount of time, as kids, concocting gear to help with one's game, usually with mixed results.

"I absolutely could've benefited by training with the POWERHANDZ gloves and slick wrap growing up," he says. "Both actually make it more difficult to handle the ball, which ultimately yields better ball-handling skills. You adapt to the lack of friction, which decreases dexterity and ultimately improves your technique."

•  Train at the speed of the game. Don't get stuck in practice. Your muscles won't be ready to take on full speed motions come game time if you don't match your training with the actual speed of the game. Here, you may also want to combine other training techniques: stay low, get comfortable dribbling the ball while stationary (which your coach may not like during an actual game) and add the challenge of reduced friction with gloves and a slick wrap over the ball.

•  Student of the game. Being a constant learner is key to becoming a great ball player. Always realizing that no matter what level you're at there's always something new to learn to become a better player. Look at Michael Jordan - a guy considered by many the best to ever play the game. He was still making massive strides in his skill set offensively and defensively into the mid 90s as his career was winding down. Same can be said of many of the NBA greats. That goes to show no matter what level you're at or where you rank among your teammates and pears there is always new things to be learned in order to improve your game.

About Grayson "The Professor" Boucher

Grayson "The Professor" Boucher, (www.theprofessorlive.com), is known worldwide for wowing crowds in streetball games with his amazing ball-handling skills, and he is arguably the most popular streetball player ever. After many years and countless hours of training at the gym, in his driveway, at basketball camps, at youth leagues and AAU basketball, he has developed first-rate skills, which so many developing players seek to emulate. Boucher has played in more than 40 countries and has been a prominent basketball icon. He now showcases his game with streetball's latest and most talked about company, Ball Up Streetball. Most recently he partnered with Powerhandz Inc. (www.powerhandz.com), which produces performance-enhancing training products for athletes.

24 Apr 2015

Fireworks Friday & Legends of Rock Night kicks off 6-game homestand!

By Marco LaNave
Friday night will be rocking, rolling, and booming for Legends of Rock Night AND the first Fireworks Friday presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities and WLLR! Wear your best old rock shirts to receive $1 off tickets! QC Rock Academy will be performing outside the gates, which open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. homestand opener. More »
23 Apr 2015

BANDITS USE 3 HOMERS TO SURGE PAST CHIEFS

By Marco LaNave

Quad Cities maintains first place in the Western Division with an 11-3 record

PEORIA, Ill. (April 22, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Joe Musgrove matched a career high with nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings to become the Midwest League's first three-game winner this season, thanks to home runs by catcher Jacob Nottingham, right fielder Ryan Bottger and left fielder Jorge Martinez in a 6-2 victory at Dozer Park Wednesday.

Winning for the fourth time in five games in Peoria, Quad Cities (11-3) kept sole possession of first place in the Western Division for a fifth straight day. The club clinched its fifth straight series victory to open the season. Quad Cities last won five straight regular season series at the end of the 2013 season from Aug. 17 to Sept. 2.

In a game that began less than 13 hours after the teams finished playing Tuesday night, Chiefs left-hander Austin Gomber (1-2) worked a perfect top of the first inning, which ended with center fielder Derek Fisher grounding out to second base. Fisher slowed up after running through first base on the play and was removed from the game before taking the field. Bottger came in to replace him in the lineup.

In the bottom of the inning against Musgrove (3-0), Chiefs leadoff batter Magneuris Sierra reached on an error by shortstop Kristian Trompiz, went to second base on a passed ball by Nottingham, advanced to third on a flyout by shortstop Oscar Mercado and scored on a groundout by third baseman Danny Diekroeger.

Gomber held the lead until three batters into the top of the second inning. He walked second baseman Mott Hyde with one out, and then Nottingham drove his third home run of the season over the yellow line above the ivy in center field for a 2-1 Quad Cities lead. Gomber retired the next five batters before Bottger led off the fourth inning by hitting the first pitch of the inning to the left field berm for his first Midwest League home run since last Aug. 5. Then in the fifth inning, shortstop Kristian Trompiz singled to left field, and left fielder Jorge Martinez launched his second home run of the season - and first right-handed - to left field for a 5-1 advantage. After Gomber did not allow a home run in his first two starts of the year, the three against him Wednesday matched the total he allowed in the 2014 season.

The River Bandits added their only non-home run tally in the sixth inning against Gomber, as Hyde drew a one-out walk, and third baseman Alex Hernandez lined a two-out RBI double to left field against former River Bandit and third-year Chiefs right-hander Jhonny Polanco. Gomber was charged with six earned runs on four hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

In his longest outing of the season, Musgrove worked around four hits and struck out seven batters in the first five innings without allowing Peoria another run. After he struck out the first two batters in the sixth inning, however, Diekroeger drew a walk - the first allowed in 14 2/3 innings this season by Musgrove - and designated hitter Justin Ringo drove an RBI double to right field. Musgrove left the mound after allowing two runs - one earned - on five hits and one walk. Right-hander Keegan Yuhl came in to retire the next four batters for a scoreless 1 1/3-inning outing.

The Chiefs bullpen of Polanco and right-hander Robby Rowland combined to pitch 3 1/3 shutout innings with six strikeouts. Quad Cities struck out a season-high 14 times. The River Bandits used right-hander Ryan Thompson to retire the final six batters. For a second straight day, River Bandits pitchers did not allow a Chiefs base runner after the sixth inning.

The River Bandits have won the first two games of each of their five series this season. However, they are 1-3 in series finales and conclude their series in Peoria at 7 p.m. Thursday. Right-hander Austin Chrismon (1-1) is scheduled to face Chiefs right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon (1-0), who defeated Quad Cities April 11 at Dozer Park.

UP NEXT: Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities and WLLR present the first Friday Fireworks of the season following the 7 p.m. game Friday at Modern Woodmen Park. It is also Legends of Rock Night for the opener of the six-game, seven-day homestand. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

*****

23 Apr 2015

BANDITS OUTLAST CHIEFS FOR COMEBACK WIN

By Marco LaNave

Quad Cities maintains first place in the Western Division with a 10-3 record

PEORIA, Ill. (April 21, 2015) - With one out in the eighth inning of a game in which neither team had more than a one-run lead Tuesday night, Quad Cities River Bandits first baseman Jamie Ritchie hit a game-tying triple, and center fielder Derek Fisher hit a go-ahead single that proved to be the deciding run in a 4-3 win over the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park.

Beginning its second series in 15 days in Peoria, Quad Cities (10-3) won its fifth straight series opener to begin the season. The club continued its best start in five years to maintain first place in the Midwest League Western Division standings by one game over Cedar Rapids (9-4) and two over Peoria (8-5) and Burlington (8-5).

The River Bandits opened the scoring in the top of the second inning against Chiefs right-hander Luis Perdomo. Designated hitter Sean McMullen placed a bunt on the third-base side, and Perdomo overthrew first base, allowing McMullen to reach second base. Catcher Alfredo Gonzalez then singled to right field to score McMullen, before Perdomo struck out the next three batters to end the inning.

Peoria answered with a run in the bottom of the second inning against River Bandits left-hander Bryan Radziewski. Right fielder Collin Radack singled to right field and scored on a two-out triple to right-center field by catcher Luis Cruz. The Chiefs later took their first lead in the third inning, when third baseman Danny Diekroeger doubled down the left-field line with two outs and scored on designated hitter Nick Thompson's RBI single. Radziewski then worked around singles in the fourth and fifth innings to complete a career-high five innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts.

The River Bandits tied the game in the fourth inning against Perdomo. With one out, right fielder Ryan Bottger singled to right field, second baseman Kristian Trompiz singled to left field, and shortstop Thomas Lindauer walked to load the bases. Perdomo struck out left fielder Bobby Boyd but then walked Ritchie to force in the tying run. Perdomo then got Fisher to fly out to end the inning. It was the first of three times Quad Cities left the bases loaded on a night when the team left a season-high 15 runners on base.

Perdomo lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on six hits and two walks with a career-high 10 strikeouts. Right-hander Blake McKnight followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, working around one hit and two walks.

River Bandits right-hander Eric Peterson (1-0) began the bottom of the sixth inning in a 2-2 tie. Thompson hit a leadoff single to left field, and first baseman Alex DeLeon hit a one-out single to left field. Cruz then blooped a single over Trompiz into  shallow center field, from where Fisher tried to throw out Thompson at third base. But the throw went past third baseman Nick Tanielu to foul territory, causing Thompson to run toward home plate. Tanielu threw to catcher Alfredo Gonzalez, but Thompson scored the go-ahead run for a 3-2 Peoria lead. Peterson retired the next five batters to complete two innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts.

The pivotal eighth inning came against Chiefs right-hander Zach Loraine (0-2), who started his outing by getting Lindauer to open the inning with a popout. Boyd then drove a double off the right-field wall and went to third base on a wild pitch. With the infield in, Ritchie lined his first triple of the season down the first-base line to tie the game. With the infield in again, Fisher grounded a 3-2 pitch through the right side of the infield to score Ritchie. Loraine was removed after one-third of an inning, charged with two earned runs on three hits. Right-hander Kyle Grana entered to walk two batters to load the bases before escaping the inning, and he added a scoreless ninth inning.

River Bandits right-hander Jose Montero held the 4-3 lead by retiring all six batters in the eighth and ninth innings for his third save.

The River Bandits continue their series in Peoria at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Dozer Park. Right-hander Joe Musgrove (2-0) is scheduled to face Chiefs left-hander Austin Gomber (1-1), in a matchup of pitchers who had opposite decisions in the teams' April 10 meeting.

UP NEXT: Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities and WLLR present the first Friday Fireworks of the season following the 7 p.m. game Friday at Modern Woodmen Park. It is also Legends of Rock Night for the opener of the six-game, seven-day homestand. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

21 Apr 2015

BANDITS SQUANDER CHANCE TO SWEEP COUGARS

By Marco LaNave
Derek Fisher hits his fourth home run, while Kristian Trompiz finishes with six hits in the three-game series
DAVENPORT, Iowa (April 21, 2015) - The Quad Cities River Bandits jumped to a 3-0 lead over the Kane County Cougars in the first inning Monday night, but the visitors capitalized on three errors, two passed balls and a wild pitch to score four unearned runs and come back for an 8-6 win that spoiled the River Bandits' attempt at a series sweep in front of 919 at Modern Woodmen Park.
After River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer worked around a single for a scoreless top of the first inning, his teammates spotted him three runs against Cougars left-hander Jared Miller. Center fielder Bobby Boyd led off with a bunt single - his fifth straight game in which he has led off with a hit - and went to second base on a groundout. After left fielder Derek Fisher walked, third baseman Nick Tanielu lined an RBI single into center field, and shortstop Mott Hyde added an RBI single to left-center field. Designated hitter Ryan Bottger reached on an error by third baseman Cody Regis to load the bases, and first baseman Jacob Nottingham's RBI groundout made it 3-0.
Comer worked a perfect second inning with two strikeouts but allowed Kane County (4-8) to begin its comeback in the third inning. Designated hitter Josh Elander drew a leadoff walk, and a pickoff throw eluded Nottingham at first base, allowing Elander to reach third base. River Bandits third baseman Nick Tanielu then misplayed a ground ball by Cougars shortstop Sergio Alcantara, allowing Elander to score. A single by center fielder Colin Bray, a groundout and sacrifice fly by left fielder Grant Heyman scored Alcantara to make it 3-2.
The 3-2 lead remained until the fifth inning, when Elander hit a leadoff single and went to second base when Bray walked. That ended Comer's outing after 4 1/3 innings, bringing left-hander Chris Lee (0-1) out of the bullpen. With runners at first and second bases, a passed ball by catcher Jamie Ritchie allowed both to advance one base. A groundout by Regis brought in the tying run, and another passed ball scored the go-ahead run. The runs were charged to Comer, who yielded four - one earned - on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
Leading off the bottom of the fifth inning, Fisher quickly tied the game by launching his fourth home run of the season to right field off Miller. Tanielu then drew a walk, went to second base on a passed ball and scored after consecutive groundouts to third base by Hyde and Bottger. Miller was then removed after allowing five runs - three earned - on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
The 5-4 lead remained for Quad Citiesuntil two outs in the top of the sixth inning. With the bases empty, second baseman Fernery Ozuna singled to right field against Lee, whose wild pitch advanced Ozuna to second base. Right fielder Victor Reyes then grounded to Hyde, whose one-hop throw to first base went into the stands, allowing Ozuna to score the tying run. The Cougars took the lead for good in the seventh inning, as Bray hit a one-out single - one of his game-high three hits - to right field, and Lee hit Regis with a pitch. After Heyman grounded out, first baseman Steve McQuail grounded an infield single between Lee coming off the pitcher's mound and Ritchie coming in from his first base position, scoring Bray for the go-ahead run. Catcher Stryker Trahan followed with an RBI single to right field for a 7-5 Cougars lead. The lead increased to 8-5 in the eighth inning, when Reyes hit a leadoff single, advanced on two groundouts and scored on Bray's RBI single to center field. Lee went 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs - three earned - on six hits and no walks with four strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Cougars right-hander Nick Baker (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings with two hits and three strikeouts to put himself in line for the win. Left-hander Zac Curtis got the final out in the seventh inning but faced a greater threat in the eigth. A walk, error and single loaded the bases with no outs for Boyd, who grounded into a fielder's choice for an RBI. Ritchie then grounded into an inning-ending double play.
With an 8-6 lead in the ninth inning, Cougars right-hander Luis Ramirez allowed a two-out walk to Hyde, but when Bottger lifted a fly ball to shallow right field, Reyes made a diving catch to end his team's four-game losing and hand Quad Cities its first loss in six home games.
The River Bandits open a three-game series in Peoria at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dozer Park. After losing two of three games in their season-opening series with Quad Cities, the Chiefs (8-4) are tied with Cedar Rapids for second place in the Western Division.
UP NEXT: Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities and WLLR present the first Friday Fireworks of the season following the 7 p.m. game Friday at Modern Woodmen Park. It is also Legends of Rock Night for the opener of the six-game, seven-day homestand. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
20 Apr 2015

BANDITS TAME COUGARS FOR ANOTHER COMEBACK WIN

By Marco LaNave
Dykxhoorn wins second straight home start to help Quad Cities maintain the Midwest League's best record
DAVENPORT, Iowa (April 19, 2015) - After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning Sunday afternoon, the Quad Cities River Bandits shut out the Kane County Cougars for the next eight innings and got the first home runs of the season from first baseman Jamie Ritchie and designated hitter Jose Martinez among 12 hits in a 7-2 victory in front of 2,290 at Modern Woodmen Park.
Holding onto first place in the Midwest League Western Division for the second straight day, the River Bandits (9-2) have their best 11-game start to the season and have won their first five home games for the first time since 2010.
Kane County (3-8) took the lead with a two-out rally in the first inning against right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (2-0). Third baseman Marty Herum reached on an infield single fielded by shortstop Mott Hyde behind second base. Left fielder Grant Heyman then bounced a triple down the first-base line to score Herum. A passed ball by catcher Alfredo Gonzalez allowed Heyman to score to make it 2-0.
Following the two first-inning runs, Dykxhoorn faced the minimum number of batters until two outs in the fifth inning, when he allowed consecutive singles to designated hitter Josh Elander and right fielder Victor Reyes before Cougars center fielder Colin Bray fouled out to third baseman Nick Tanielu who tumbled into the first row of the third-base bleachers to make the catch. Dykxhoorn worked around his only two walks in the sixth inning to last a career-high six innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on four hits with four strikeouts.
Cougars right-hander Brent Jones (0-2) kept the home team off the scoreboard until the second inning. Hyde hit a one-out single up the middle, and Gonzalez walked. Two batters later, second baseman Kristian Trompiz hit a two-out single to left field that scored Hyde, but Trompiz running toward second base forced Gonzalez into an inning-ending rundown.
Ritchie tied the game in the third inning with a one-out solo home run to the Miller Lite Party Deck off a 3-2 pitch from Jones. The 2-2 tie remained until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Martinez led off by smacking a 2-2 offering to the Built Ford Tough Deck for his first Midwest League home run since Aug. 24, 2013, when he was with Lake County in the Cleveland Indians organization. Jones worked around singles by Trompiz and Ritchie later in the inning by getting Tanielu to fly out to center field, with Ritchie being doubled off first.
Leading 3-2, Quad Cities broke the game open in the sixth inning. Right fielder Ryan Bottger lined a hit to right field, where Victor Reyes' mis-timed dive allowed the ball to get to the outfield wall and Bottger to reach third base. With the infield in, left fielder Sean McMullen popped up to shallow left field, where Cougars shortstop Fernery Ozuna made a diving catch with his back to the infield, but Bottger beat the throw home to extend the lead to 4-2. Hyde then doubled to left field, ending Jones' outing and drawing right-hander Bud Jeter from the Kane County bullpen. A wild pitch put Hyde at third base, and he beat a throw to home plate when Gonzalez grounded to Herum along the third-base line. Martinez followed with a double to left-center field, and Trompiz drove in Gonzalez and Martinez with a double to left-center field for a 7-2 lead. A day after his first Midwest League home run, Trompiz matched career highs with three hits and three RBIs.
With a five-run lead, River Bandits right-hander Ryan Thompson began the seventh inning and retired the first five batters he faced. He finished two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three batters. In the ninth inning, right-hander Eric Peterson allowed a leadoff double to Heyman before retiring the next three batters.
The River Bandits conclude their series with Kane County at 7 p.m. Monday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer (2-0) is scheduled to face Cougars left-hander Jared Miller (1-1).
UP NEXT: Frankie Valli from the Broadway show "Jersey Boys" will sing the National Anthem before Monday's 7 p.m. game. Gates open at 6 p.m. Military personnel - active and retired - can show ID at the box office to purchase up to four tickets for just $1 each on Military Monday presented by Performance Food Group, 97X and ESPN 93.5. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.
*****
20 Apr 2015

BANDITS OUT-DUEL COUGARS IN SERIES OPENER

By Marco LaNave
DAVENPORT, Iowa (April 18, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-handers Joshua James, Keegan Yuhl and Jose Montero combined to limit the Kane County Cougars to one run on four hits, and second baseman Kristian Trompiz hit a game-tying, seventh-inning home run before an eighth-inning tally gave the home team a 2-1 victory in front of 3,771 at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.
For the first time in five years, the River Bandits have won their first four home games and begun the season 8-2 overall. Quad Cities also won against an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate for the first time since the clinching Game 3 of the 2013 Midwest League Championship against the South Bend Silver Hawks, Arizona's Class-A affiliate at the time.
After James pitched a perfect top of the first inning, Quad Cities had its first scoring threat in the bottom half. Cougars right-hander Markus Solbach allowed a leadoff walk to first baseman Jamie Ritchie and one-out single by designated hitter Derek Fisher, who extended his hitting streak to seven games with a blooper down the left-field line. Third baseman Nick Tanielu then flied to right field, from where Colin Bray threw out Fisher as he tried to advance to second base.
Kane County (3-7) scored its run in the second inning. James began by walking designated hitter Steve McQuail, and then on three consecutive pitches, third baseman Cody Regis singled to left field, left fielder Josh Elander grounded into a double play, and center fielder Victor Reyes lined a two-out RBI single to left field for a 1-0 Cougars lead. Reyes was then caught stealing to end the inning. James later worked around a hit batter and walk with one out in the fourth inning with a strikeout and groundout to the mound. In his first Midwest League start, he finished five innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
Solbach dodged Quad Cities' threats in the third and fifth innings. In the third, he allowed a one-out single by River Bandits shortstop Thomas Lindauer and another walk to Ritchie. A wild pitch moved Lindauer to third base, but Solbach struck out right fielder Ryan Bottger and got Fisher to pop out to end the inning. In the fifth, a two-out walk to Lindauer, a single by Ritchie and walk to Bottger loaded the bases before Fisher flied out to left field.
Solbach preserved the 1-0 lead until one out in the seventh inning, when Trompiz lifted the first pitch he saw over the right-field wall for his third professional home run and his first since last June 20 in the Gulf Coast League. The Cougars answered the momentum swing during the next at-bat, as Lindauer hit a foul popup that Bray caught as he collided with the Party Plaza fence and fell over the railing. Bray remained in the game, but Solbach was removed after Ritchie reached on a two-out infield single. Kane County's starter allowed one earned run on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Right-hander Jency Solis entered to yield a double down the left-field line by Bottger to put runners at second and third bases before getting Fisher on a groundout.
Yuhl (1-0) faced one batter over the minimum in the sixth through eighth innings, with the only baserunner reaching on a strikeout and wild pitch. Yuhl struck out four batters and earned his first professional win because of Quad Cities' run in the eighth inning. Center fielder Sean McMullen doubled to right field with one out and stole third base, before catcher Jacob Nottingham grounded out to third base to score with the infield in to score McMullen. Right-hander Jose Montero made the lead stand despite allowing a leadoff single to first baseman Marty Herum and one-out walk to third baseman Cody Regis in the ninth inning. Montero earned his second save.
The River Bandits continue their series against Kane County at 1:15 p.m. Sunday at Modern Woodmen Park. Right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (1-0) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Brent Jones (0-1).
20 Apr 2015

SNAPPERS' 2 BIG INNINGS END BANDITS' WIN STREAK

By Rick Martin

BELOIT, Wis. (April 17, 2015) - The Beloit Snappers overcame a 4-1 deficit with a three-run fifth inning and a 6-4 deficit with a five-run eighth inning to end the Quad Cities River Bandits' five-game winning streak with a 9-6 final at Pohlman Field Friday night.

Beloit (2-7) snapped a seven-game losing streak and denied Quad Cities (7-2) an opportunity for the club's best nine-game start since 2001. The River Bandits fell into a tie for first place in the Midwest League Western Division first-half standings with Cedar Rapids (7-2).

The River Bandits took their first lead in the second inning, when Snappers right-hander Heath Fillmyer walked right fielder Sean McMullen and hit first baseman Bryan Muñiz to begin the frame. Third baseman Alex Hernandez sacrificed both runners into scoring position, before shortstop Thomas Lindauer drove a 1-0 pitch from Fillmyer over the left-field wall for his first home run of the season.

Trailing 3-0, Beloit reached the scoreboard in the third inning against right-hander Daniel Mengden. Right fielder Shawn Duinkerk, who finished a triple shy of the cycle, began his eventual 4-for-4 day with a leadoff double down the right-field line and went to third base on a single to center field by second baseman Trent Gilbert. When catcher Argenis Raga grounded into a fielder's choice, Duinkerk scored.

Quad Cities added to its lead in the fourth inning, when right fielder Sean McMullen drew a leadoff walk, Lindauer walked with two outs, and left fielder Bobby Boyd singled to right field, where Duinkerk did not field the ball cleanly, allowing McMullen to score. Duinkerk recovered in time to throw out Boyd at second base to end the inning.

In the fifth, Quad Cities ran into three more outs on the base paths. Designated hitter Alfredo Gonzalez hit a leadoff single and reached second base on an error before being thrown out at third base when he tried to advance after a wild pickoff throw. Center fielder Derek Fisher doubled to right field but later was retired running to third base after a ground ball to shortstop. Second baseman Mott Hyde, who reached on the fielder's choice, was the final out of the inning on the way to home plate on a double by catcher Jacob Nottingham.

After allowing four hits and one run with four strikeouts through four innings, Mengden allowed Duinkerk's home run leading off the fifth inning. Gilbert doubled to right field, and ground ball by Raga got through third baseman Alex Hernandez. Mengden got the next two batters before shortstop Yairo Munoz singled off Fisher's glove in center field to bring Beloit within 4-3. A strikeout and passed ball kept the inning alive and loaded the bases to end Mengden's outing. Right-hander Ryan Thompson allowed a game-tying single by first baseman Max Kuhn before McMullen made a running catch in right field to end the inning with a 4-4 tie.

The River Bandits retook the lead in the seventh inning against right-hander Corey Miller. With two outs, Hyde doubled to left field, Nottingham hit an RBI single to the left of second base up the middle, and McMullen drove an RBI double to left-center field.

After beginning the sixth inning, right-hander Austin Chrismon (1-1) held the 6-4 lead into the eighth, when the first six batters reached base. Kuhn hit a leadoff single, Chrismon hit designated hitter Joe Bennie with a pitch, and Duinkerk singled to load the bases. Gilbert then hit a game-tying, two-run double down the right-field line, followed by Raga's go-ahead two-run double to left-center field. Center fielder Brett Vertigan reached on an infield single, and Raga scored when Lindauer overthrew first base. Chrismon was charged with five earned runs on seven hits in two innings and six batters of work. Left-hander Albert Minnis entered to retire three straight batters and keep the deficit at 9-6, but Snappers right-hander Trevor Bayless (1-0) struck out three batters in two hitless innings to finish the game.

The River Bandits open a three-game home series against Kane County at 6 p.m. Saturday at Modern Woodmen Park. Right-hander Joshua James (0-0) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Markus Solbach (1-0) in the teams' first meeting of the season.

UP NEXT: Saturday is Irish Heritage Night presented by Bud Light & 7G Distributing, with green beer and $1 off tickets at the box office for anyone wearing green. Green Aluminum Bud Light bottles and Guinness bottles will be just $4 each. Gates open at 5 p.m. for a Fan Appreciation Saturday presented by 101.3 KISS-FM, with a pregame bagpipe performance and face painting on the concourse. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

*****

17 Apr 2015

BANDITS GET 2 WINS IN BELOIT, HAVE 5 IN A ROW

By Marco LaNave

Quad Cities holds Beloit to two runs over 12 innings Thursday to post its best eight-game start in five years

BELOIT, Wis. (April 16, 2015) - Center fielder Derek Fisher homered in a third straight game, and left-hander Brian Radziewski struck out six batters in four hitless innings to help the Quad Cities River Bandits complete a 6-4 win from Wednesday's suspended game at Pohlman Field Thursday night. In the ensuing seven-inning contest, right-hander Joe Musgrove struck out five batters in five innings, and second baseman Alex Hernandez hit two RBI singles to give the visitors a 5-1 triumph for their fifth straight win.

With their longest winning streak since last July 19-24, Quad Cities (7-1) has its best eight-game start since achieving the same record at the outset of the 2010 season. In Friday's 6:30 p.m. series finale in Beloit, Quad Cities seeks its sixth straight win to match the club's longest winning streak of 2014. Quad Cities also seeks its first back-to-back series sweeps in the regular season since Aug. 11-17, 2007, when it swept four games from Fort Wayne (Aug. 11-14) and two from Kane County (Aug. 16-17) in a six-game home winning streak.

Resuming a 2-2, fifth-inning tie from Wednesday night's lighting malfunction, Radziewski (1-0) began with a runner at second base and allowed catcher Argenis Raga to place a bunt toward third baseman Jorge Martinez, who made an errant throw to first base to put runners at first and third bases. After a strikeout, shortstop Yairo Munoz grounded into a fielder's choice, beating the relay to first base to allow the run to score. The run was charged to Wednesday starter Chris Lee, who finished with three runs - one earned - on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Radziewski retired the next 10 batters in order, including six on strikeouts, to take his team through the eighth inning.

Trailing 3-2 against Snappers right-hander Kevin Johnson (0-1), Quad Cities quickly tied and took the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Right fielder Ryan Bottger reached on an error by second baseman Trent Gilbert, and River Bandits second baseman Mott Hyde laced a game-tying double to left-center field. Catcher Alfredo Gonzalez grounded out to move Hyde to third base, and he scored on first baseman Bryan Muñiz's RBI double - his first Midwest League hit and RBI - for a 4-3 Quad Cities lead.

Fisher added his two-run home run after designated hitter Jamie Ritchie walked in the seventh inning. That was enough for Radziewski and right-hander Keegan Yuhl, who allowed a pair of doubles and a run in the ninth inning before recording his first save of the season.

In the regularly scheduled game, shortened to seven innings because it followed the completion of a game suspended before the end of the fifth inning, Quad Cities held a lead from the first inning to the end. Against right-hander Jordan Schwartz (0-1), left fielder Bobby Boyd hit a leadoff single to right field, stole second base, went to third on Fisher's infield single and scored when Bottger hit into a fielder's choice. In the second, first baseman Jacob Nottingham hit a one-out double to right field and scored when Hernandez singled to right field..

Beloit (1-7) scored its only run in the second inning. First baseman Sandber Pimentel led off with a double down the right-field line, went to third base on a flyout and scored when catcher Jose Chavez dribbled an infield single to the third-base side of the pitcher's mound.

Quad Cities extended the lead with Hyde doubling and scoring on another single by Hernandez in the fourth inning, and Ritchie walking, stealing second and scoring on Hyde's single in the fifth inning. The Snappers loaded the bases in the fifth to put the tying run at first base, but Musgrove struck out third baseman Joe Bennie to end the threat. Musgrove allowed one earned run on five hits with no walks.

Schwartz lasted five innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts, and right-hander Carlos Navas allowed a leadoff double in the seventh inning to Boyd, who scored on a two-out wild pitch. The 5-1 lead was held by Quad Cities right-hander Eric Peterson, who set down all six batters - including three on strikeouts in the sixth and seventh innings for his first save. Five different pitchers have recorded the five saves by the River Bandits this season.

UP NEXT: Registration is open for the Sunday, April 19, Frozen Princess Day private meet-and-greet with the Ice Queen and Snow Princess at Modern Woodmen Park. The special package includes Frozen-themed food, drinks, desserts, goodie bags and games in the Budweiser Champions Club, and a reserved box seat for the 1:15 p.m. game. Call 563-324-3000 for details. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

*****

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