22 Sep 2014

BRETT PHILLIPS NAMED ASTROS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

By Scott Kornberg
Former River Bandit Josh Hader wins organizational Pitcher of the Year
DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 17, 2014) - Brett Phillips, who played 103 games as an outfielder this season for the Quad Cities River Bandits, has been named the Houston Astros Minor League Player of the Year, the major league club announced on Wednesday.
Former River Bandits left-handed pitcher Josh Hader, who pitched for Quad Cities in 2013 and won the Midwest League title-clinching game a year ago, was named Houston's Minor League Pitcher of the Year this season. Both Phillips and Hader will be honored during the pregame ceremonies on Sunday at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
In 130 games between Quad Cities and Class-A Advanced Lancaster, Phillips hit .310 with 29 doubles, 14 triples, 17 home runs, 69 RBI and 23 stolen bases. He posted a .375 on-base percentage, .529 slugging percentage and .905 OPS. In the California League playoffs, Phillips led the JetHawks with 11 hits while playing all eight games in the team's run to the California League Championship.
Already named a Midwest League postseason All-Star and the Class-A Player of the Year by Baseball America, Phillips is the first River Bandit to win an annual organizational award since Shelby Miller was the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2010.
Over 103 games this season with the River Bandits, Phillips led the team in hits (116), triples and slugging while ranking second in doubles (21), home RBIs (58) and OPS, tied for second in home runs (the first 13 of his career) and third in walks (36) and stolen bases (18). Phillips became the first Quad Cities player since at least 1998 to homer in five straight games when he did so July 26-30.
Houston's sixth-round pick in 2012 out of Seminole (Fla.) High School, Phillips was promoted to Class-A Advanced Lancaster on August 4, but he finished the season first in the Midwest League in slugging percentage (.521), second in OPS (.883) and third in both batting average (.302) and triples (12). Among all-time Quad Cities single-season marks, his 12 triples place him in a tie for second while his .521 slugging percentage is ninth. Phillips' 14 outfield assists this season are also the most in the Midwest League.
The 20-year-old Seminole, Fla., native was a starting outfielder for the 2014 Midwest League All-Star Game June 17 in West Michigan and was the youngest position player selected for the Western Division roster. Ranked as the Houston Astros' No. 30 prospect before the season by Baseball America, Phillips also won Quad Cities Player of the Month in April, when he posted a .301 batting average with three triples, two home runs and a team-high 13 RBIs. Phillips had a .394 on-base percentage, .446 slugging percentage, and .840 OPS in 23 games.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, 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.
19 Sep 2014

Deadline Extended to Friday for Batting for Scholars Home Run Derby

By River Bandits
The first-ever Batting for Scholars Home Run Derby to benefit the Bandit Scholars Program is coming up on Sunday, Sept. 21. Presented by Modern Woodmen of America and Triumph Community Bank, the event will give fans and people across the Quad Cities region the chance to swing for the fences at Modern Woodmen Park. Registration has been extended to Friday, September 19! More »
19 Sep 2014

Hometown Teams Programming Starts with the History of Auto Racing, Sept. 16

By Lisa Lockheart

Events continue with programs on women in baseball, professional football in Rock Island, stadium tours, and Quad City golf

 

Rock Island, IL: Hometown Teams, a touring exhibit on how sports affects American culture, kicked off this morning at the Rock Island Main Library with an opening day ceremony involving 150 participants, including athletes from Rock Island, Moline, and United Township High Schools, the Moline High School marching band, members of the Rock Island High School varsity cheerleading squad, local committee members and program partners.

The traveling Hometown Teams exhibit, which is a collaboration of the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street and the Illinois Humanities Council, is supported by local sports history displays and programs at the Rock Island Main Library and other community sites.. The first program in the six-week program series is Tuesday. It features the history of local auto racing. "Start Your Engines: Motorsports in the Quad Cities," will be presented by racing writer and organizer Roger Ruthhart at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street. The free program covers the rich history of auto racing in the Quad Cities, including what many believe to be the site of the first automobile race in Iowa.

Additional free history programs in September include :

Women Who Played Baseball: Monday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 pm, Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, Rock Island. Illinois Humanities Council road scholar Barbara Gregovich presents the story of three teenage girls who played hardball on the last traveling "bloomer girl" baseball team in 1934. For 60 years prior to the formation of the All American Girls Professional League, women played in these national and international barnstorming leagues. This human-interest story touches on the Great Depression, barnstorming baseball teams, and the heroic women who wanted to play hardball.

Small Stadium, Big Time Football; RI Independents of the NFL: Thursday, Sept. 25:, 6:30 pm, Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Retired Rock Island High School coach Vic Boblett brings us the story of the Rock Island Independents, one of the first 14 teams of the National Football League. The Independents are prominently featured in the library's local display. Boblett will expand upon their role in local and national football history, and on the differences in football, then and now.

Places Where We Play Stadium Bus Tour: Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9:30 am to noon. Tour embarks and returns to Rock Island Main Library. The stadiums where we watch and play for Hometown Teams are sources of great memories and community spirit. Learn more about the history of Rock Island High School's Almquist Field, Moline High School's Wharton Field House and Browning Field, and Augustana College's Ericson Field. Each stop includes a presentation, with additional bus commentary by Thom Cornelis. Reservations needed for bus arrangements. Please call 309-732-7345 or register via the library's online calendar. Reservations requested no later than Wednesday, Sept. 24. The tour is free and open to all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

From the Quad Cities Open to the John Deere Classic - Big-time Professional Golf in the Quad Cities, Tuesday, Sept. 30: 6:30 pm, Moline Public Library, 3210 41st Street. Hometown Teams local project partner Moline Library hosts a golf exhibit and program by longtime tournament volunteer John Wetzel.

October programs include an Oct. 4 program on a local game changer in integrating professional football, Frederick "Duke" Slater, along with presentations on Three-I League baseball,  Tri-Cities Blackhawks  professional basketball, amateur softball tournaments at Douglas Park, and a panel discussion on how Title 9 changed sports nationally and locally.

Additional Hometown Team displays are offered at Rock Island County Historical Society, and the Karpeles Manuscript Museum. Evenings at Butterworth, at the Butterworth Center, Moline, has also dedicated three fall programs to sports topics.

"Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America, will be on view during library hours from  Saturday, Sept. 13 to Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 at the Rock Island Library's Main Branch, 401 19th Street, Rock Island. "Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America" is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Illinois Humanities Council.

Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. Local sponsors include the Rock Island Community Foundation, Illinois Humanities Council, Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island Public Library Foundation, and Sedona Staffing, along with media sponsorships from WHBF TV/CBS 4, Townsquare Media  (ESPN Quad Cities 93.5, The HAWK 104.9, 97X WXLP, and B100 ), Mickle Communications, The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus and the River Cities Reader. In kind support has been received from Bill's Moving and Storage, Victory Enterprises, and Midwest Graphics Management.

All events are free and open to the public. Free Hometown Teams program brochures are available, or contact the library at 309-732-READ or www.rockislandlibrary.org for more details.

# # #

Exhibit Venue: Rock Island Main Library: 401 19th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201, 309-732-READ (7323),www.rockislandlibrary.org. Second- floor exhibit space open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, during all scheduled library programs, and by contacting the first floor service desk at other times. Exhibits close one-half hour before library closing. Group tours are available. General library hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday and Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The library is closed on Sundays.

19 Sep 2014

Registration for Fall courses are happening now!

By Davenport Parks & Recreation
Sports Leagues & Tournaments!  Theatre & Dance!  Adaptive and Inclusive programs!  Ice Skating!  Environmental Education!  We've got it all and more this fall at Davenport Parks and Recreation.  Fall programs are starting now, so be sure to register for your favorite classes. 
Online Catalog and Registration
To view more information on any course, or to register online, click the link below for our website:


Hard copies of our catalog are available at the following locations:
  • The River's Edge
  • Vander Veer Conservatory
  • Davenport Public Libraries
  • Junior Theatre
  • Roosevelt Community Center
  • Davenport City Hall
  • Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau Union Station
  • Davenport School offices or common areas*

(*Due to a change in school policy, catalogs are no longer being sent home with students. But they are available at the locations listed above.)

FOOTGOLF HALF PRICE ON WEEKDAYS

It's soccer fun on the golf course!  If you haven't tried it, now is the perfect time to try our newest sport - Footgolf. From now until the end of the season, Footgolf rates are half price during the week - only $5 per person.

Weekday rate:   $5.00 per person

Weekend rate:   $10.00 per person

Location:   Red Hawk Golf Course, 6364 Northwest Blvd Davenport IA 52806

SKATING LESSONS

Offering classes for kids ages 3 years and up, our learn to skate program is the best around.  We have an Olympic size sheet of ice where students learn their moves!  Skating also develops balance, coordination and socialization. Our next session starts November 6. Register now before it fills up!

More information go to our Online Catalog.

11 Sep 2014

HAWKEYES PLAY SUNDAY AT MODERN WOOMEN PARK

By Marco LaNave
Fans can enjoy $2 drinks and $5 tickets; amusements will also operate when gates open at 1 p.m.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 9, 2014) - Baseball season is not yet over at Modern Woodmen Park, as the Iowa Hawkeyes will play a 2 p.m. game Sunday at the Best Minor League Ballpark, where admission will be just $5, and fans can enjoy a combination of Thirst-Day Thursday and Family Sunday promotions - including $2 beers, pops and peanuts, dogs welcome to attend the game for Bark in the Park, and postgame Kids Run the Bases.
Gates open at 1 p.m. Sunday, and amusements will also operate when the Hawkeyes play their first game since 2011 at Modern Woodmen Park and open their fall schedule against the Ontario Blue Jays, one of Canada's top-ranked amateur baseball programs.
"The Quad Cities is proud to be Hawkeye Country, and we are delighted for the people of this great community to be the very first to see the Iowa Hawkeyes baseball team in action this fall," said Quad Cities River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Fans will be able to enjoy a great day at America's best minor league ballpark and watch their favorite college team while enjoying $2 beers and pops all day long!"
All individual tickets for Sundays game are just $5 each, while groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for just $3 each. All seating is first-come, first-served. Suite rentals for Sunday's game are $200 each.  Tickets are available by calling the Modern Woodmen Park box office at 563-324-3000. The box office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day through Friday and starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday. At Sunday's game, parking in the lots adjacent to Modern Woodmen Park will be free.
Amusements will operate for Sunday's game, as well as the usual September weekend hours on Friday (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.).
The Hawkeyes finished 30-23 overall last spring, posting a 10-14 record in the Big Ten Conference. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays were 12-6-5 over the 2014 season. The 2013 Ontario Blue Jays team featured 23 players who later committed to play collegiate baseball, including 19 at the NCAA Division I level.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, 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.
*****
10 Sep 2014

RIVERDALE ELEMENTARY AND NICK TEDDY TEAM UP: "WEAR THE BEAR" DAY AND 100-MILE CLUB SEASON KICK-OFF

By Rick Martin

PORT BYRON, IL -Homecoming week and the week leading up to the Nick Teddy 5k coincide, and so Riverdale Elementary and the Nick Teddy 5k have joined forces for some fun activities. !

Homecoming "theme week" at Riverdale involves a daily theme to promote school spirit. On Thursday, September 11, the theme will be teddy bears, and students are encouraged to "Wear the Bear." !

And Riverdale Elementary's 100-Mile Club will kick off its season at the Nick Teddy 5k in Port Byron on September 13, 2014. !

The Nick Teddy Foundation will help in all the fun by marching in the Homecoming parade, ordering t-shirts for students interested in wearing its own signature bear, and by discounting the NT5k entry fee. !

Riverdale PE teacher and 100 Mile Club program director Melissa Secker said, "The kids look forward to participating in the Nick Teddy event...for some they are excited to run their very first 5K, and others are excited to receive their first special event shoe charm."! !

The 100 Mile Club is a national initiative to promote childhood fitness, and fight inactivity and obesity. The organization provides resources and support to schools, to develop fun and engaging ways for kids to keep moving. Each 100-Mile Club participant has a goal to run or walk 100 miles during the school year. Credits are earned for each mile, and as they accumulate, students are awarded shoe charms to mark their achievements. Those who complete 100 miles earn a trophy. !

The "Nick Teddy 5k" is an annual celebration of the life of Port Byron native Nicholas Theodore Strub, who died of Ewing's sarcoma in November 2011 at age 29. The Nick Teddy Foundation was established in his memory, and works to raise money for Ewing's sarcoma research, to increase awareness of the disease in the Quad City area, and to support local Ewing's patients and their families. Several area children and adults are currently affected by this disease. !

More information on the Nick Teddy Foundation and the Nick Teddy 5k can be found online at: http://www.NickTeddy.org,
on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NickTeddyOrg); on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/NickTeddyOrg).!
For more information on Riverdale Elementary's 100 Mile Club, contact: Melissa Secker, Riverdale Elementary PE, Phone: 309-523-3186, Email: msecker@riverdaleschools.org !

###

09 Sep 2014

Milton Hershey School Roots for Alum Garry Gilliam In His First NFL Game

By Keri Straub

MHS community rallying behind one of its own

HERSHEY, PA– Milton Hershey School® (MHS) graduate Garry Gilliam 2009 will make his official NFL debut tonight as an offensive tackle for the defending Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks. Gilliam, an undrafted free agent, was signed this weekend as part of the Seahawk's 53-man roster.

"When people tell me there's a high chance that I can't do something or won't do something, it drives me to prove them wrong. So, it definitely feels good when you know all of your hard work paid off and you get a spot on the team," Gilliam said.

Gilliam enrolled at MHS, a cost-free, private, residential school for children from families of low-income, when he was seven years old. The school provided him with a top-notch education, structured home life and access to a variety of activities.

"There is a lot of support at Milton Hershey School, and the way the classes are structured definitely helped me in college. The school also can make you grow up, and if you embrace the opportunities, it can definitely benefit anyone," Gilliam said.

An honor roll student at MHS, Gilliam also played four sports. He was named an All-American, All-State and All-Mid Penn Conference honoree as a four-year starter, playing tight end and defensive end. He also participated in the Big 33 game.

"Garry is an excellent representation of the Milton Hershey School graduate who works tremendously hard to achieve a goal. His MHS family is extremely proud. It is always wonderful to see our graduates moving on and leading successful and productive lives postgraduation," MHS President Peter Gurt '85 said.

After graduating from MHS, Gilliam played four years as tight end and offensive tackle for the Penn State Nittany Lions. He graduated in 2013 with a double major in advertising/public relations, and management.

Gilliam will suit up for his first NFL game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle tonight against the Green Bay Packers at 8:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on NBC.

Click here to find out more about Garry Gilliam's journey from MHS to Seattle.

# # # #

ABOUT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL
Milton Hershey School® offers a top-notch education, state-of-the art facilities, advanced technology and a wide array of activities to children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade from families of low income. This cost-free, private, coeducational school in Hershey, PA is funded by a trust established by Milton and Catherine Hershey. The school provides a positive, structured home life year-round and an excellent education, focusing on the whole child. Our vision centers on high-quality academics, college preparation, career readiness and providing children with the skills necessary to be successful in all aspects of life. Learn more at www.mhskids.org.

09 Sep 2014

LEE, RAMSAY WIN ASTROS' AUGUST HONORS

By Scott Kornberg
Former Bandits Sclafani, Jankowski, Holmes, Kemmer, Joyce and Melendez take home honors across various levels in Astros system

DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 4, 2014) - Outfielder James Ramsay is the Quad Cities River Bandits Player of the Month for August, and left-handed pitcher Chris Lee is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Thursday.

The Houston Astros Player Development Department named a Pitcher and Player of the Month at each of their four full-season affiliates, three short-season affiliates and two Dominican Summer League affiliates. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.

Ramsay, Houston's seventh-round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, batted .322 with three doubles, one triple, three homers, 12 RBIs, 13 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, a .368 on-base percentage, .483 slugging percentage and .851 OPS in 23 August games, earning a promotion to Lancaster on August 26. The Brandon, Fla. native finished the season leading the River Bandits in runs (70), doubles (26), stolen bases (33) and walks (59). He batted .247 with a .339 OBP, .373 SLG, .713 OPS, 10 triples, three homers and 35 RBIs.

Lee, Houston's fourth-round pick in 2011, went 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA in six August outings covering 23.2 innings. The Tampa, Fl. native fanned 18 while walking nine and giving up 24 hits. Over the second half of the season, Lee was 6-1 with a 2.91 ERA in 55.2 innings. From June 14 through July 6, Lee did not walk a batter for 14.2 straight innings, the longest for any Quad Cities pitcher this year. He finished the campaign tied for the team lead with eight wins. He lost six games and posted a 3.66 ERA, 75 strikeouts and 51 walks in 113.0 innings. The southpaw's 1.98 groundout-to-airout ratio was the best of any River Bandits starting pitcher.

Below is a list of the Players and Pitchers of the Month this season for Quad Cities:

 

April

Brett Phillips

Gonzalo Sanudo

 

May

Brian Holberton

Jandel Gustave

 

June

Tyler White

Evan Grills

 

July

Chase McDonald

Albert Minnis

 

August

James Ramsay

Chris Lee

 

Former River Bandits infielder Joe Sclafani was selected as Triple-A Oklahoma City's Player of the Month and ex-Quad Cities right-handed pitcher Jordan Jankowski grabbed Double-A Corpus Christi's Pitcher of the Month honors. Two more former Bandits, outfielder Jon Kemmer and left-handed pitcher Brian Holmes, took home the honors at Class A Advanced Lancaster. 2013 River Bandits outfielder Terrell Joyce won Short Season Class A Tri-City's Player of the Month and outfielder Alexander Melendez, who played in six August games with Quad Cities, earned his second consecutive GCL Player of the Month award.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, 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.

02 Sep 2014

BANDITS SET NEW ATTENDANCE RECORD IN 2014

By Marco LaNave

Per-game average of 3,885 is highest in 55-year history of the Quad Cities Midwest League franchise

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 31, 2014) - An average of 3,885 fans per game attended Quad Cities River Bandits home games at Modern Woodmen Park this season, setting a new record for the highest per-game average for a season in the 55-year history of the Quad Cities Midwest League franchise.

The 2014 season also saw five of the 11 largest single-game home crowds - all 7,089 or larger - for the Quad Cities franchise since the start of the 2002 season. The new per-game average record was achieved despite weather postponing nine River Bandits home games - the most for any Midwest League team in six years.

"We are thrilled and humbled by the unyielding support of all of the fans who came to Modern Woodmen Park this season," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "This record is even more meaningful because our fans endured record rain and flooding, when entire parking lots and parts of our play area were underwater, and people had to walk as much as a mile to get to the ballpark. That's just one of the many hundreds of reasons why we are so grateful to host the best fans in minor league baseball at the No. 1 minor league ballpark in America!"

Quad Cities' total home attendance of 237,005 this season was the sixth-most since the franchise joined the Midwest League in 1960. For each of the seven seasons under Main Street Baseball, more than 200,000 fans have attended Quad Cities River Bandits games at Modern Woodmen Park - a streak unprecedented in franchise history.

"This season has been special for so many reasons - the opening of the Ferris wheel, unique promotions and events, and exciting baseball games, but the fans have made it truly memorable with overwhelming passion for the River Bandits and Modern Woodmen Park," said General Manager Andrew Chesser. "The entire Quad Cities should be proud of a record-setting season at the ballpark!"

The Quad Cities franchise record for single-season attendance is 260,471 - a mark set in 1994 as the Quad City River Bandits, an affiliate of the Houston Astros. That season's per-game average of 3,755 was the highest for the franchise until this season.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, 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.

*****

02 Sep 2014

Bandits finish up 2014 season with winning record

By Scott Kornberg
BANDITS CLOSE SEASON WITH 8-5 LOSS TO BEES
Davis homers again as Quad Cities completes second consecutive winning season

BURLINGTON, Iowa (September 1, 2014) - J.D. Davis and Dayne Parker each homered, but the Quad Cities River Bandits ended their season with an 8-5 loss Monday to the Burlington Bees at Community Field.

The River Bandits (35-35 second half, 70-69 overall) got off to a good start when Bobby Boyd and Ryan Bottger, who had three hits for the second time in three contests, opened the game with singles against Burlington (30-40, 68-71) starter Alex Blackford. Marc Wik then laced a double down the right field line to bring both in and quickly give Quad Cities a 2-0 lead.

The Bees struck back right away though against Quad Cities starter Michael Feliz. Bo Way, who had three hits and reached base for the 27th time in his last 28 games, led off the bottom of the first with a base hit and then Kody Eaves hit his tenth homer of the year to tie the game at two. Feliz got Brandon Bayardi on strikes and then Eric Aguilera grounded out to second for the first two outs of the frame. Zach Houchins then lined a base hit to left that got by Quad Cities left fielder Brauly Mejia for a single and an error, the first of two on the day for Mejia. Houchins then came around to score on Trevor Gretzky's RBI double to put Burlington ahead 3-2.

With Burlington holding onto a 4-3 lead in the fifth, Gretzky, who had three hits, singled with two outs, stole second and then came into score on Stephen McGee's RBI double. Ismael Dionicio then singled to left, but Mejia threw out McGee at the plate to end the inning and the day for Feliz (8-6). The right-hander allowed a career-high 12 hits and gave up five runs, four earned, with no walks and six strikeouts in his five frames to suffer the loss.

Quad Cities used a home run from Dayne Parker, his second of the season, in the seventh to cut the lead back to one, but a McGee sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the frame made it 6-4 Bees.

In the top of the eighth, Davis launched his eighth dinger of the year and fifth in the last eight games to pull the Bandits back to within just one. But again, in the bottom of the inning, the Bees had an answer, using a Bayardi two-run shot to put the score at 8-5.

Alex Blackford (2-4) earned the win for the Bees, surrendering three runs on six hits in five innings. He walked one and fanned six while Ben Carlson worked a perfect ninth for his 14th save.

The River Bandits closed the 2014 season with a 70-69 record, their second consecutive winning campaign.

DAVIS POUNDS TWO HOMERS, BANDITS WIN BUT ARE ELIMINATED
Wisconsin victory ends Quad Cities postseason hopes
BURLINGTON, Iowa (August 31, 2014) - J.D. Davis had his first professional multi-homer game to lead the Quad Cities River Bandits to a 9-4 win over the Burlington Bees Sunday at Community Field. Despite the victory, the River Bandits were eliminated from the playoff picture by Wisconsin's win at Beloit.

Davis got the scoring started by launching a 2-2 pitch from Burlington (29-31 second half, 67-71 overall) starter Daniel Hurtado over the right-field wall for his sixth home run of the season to put Quad Cities (35-34, 70-68) up 1-0.

Chase McDonald followed Davis' act with a solo home run, his team-best 16th of the year, to lead off the top of the fourth, making it 2-0.

Ranyelmy Mendoza's solo shot in the bottom of the fifth cut the Bandits' lead to 2-1, but Hurtado (2-4), who gave up five runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in six innings to take the loss, got himself into more trouble with the longball in the sixth. He walked McDonald with two outs and nobody on before yielding a single to A.J. Reed. Davis then clubbed his second dinger of the game to give Quad Cities the 5-1 advantage. Davis finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while also walking and swiping his fourth base of the season.

Burlington was able to get back in the game in the bottom of the seventh when Trevor Gretzky hit his third homer of the season, a three-run shot to draw the Bees to within 5-4. But the Bandits were able to answer immediately, with back-to-back doubles by Marc Wik and Ryan Bottger in the top of the eighth scoring a run, and Bottger coming home on a McDonald sacrifice fly to the wall in left-center, giving Quad Cities a 7-4 cushion.

In the top of the ninth, Bobby Boyd hit his first career triple to drive in Lindauer. He then came into score on Dayne Parker's sacrifice fly to left to put Quad Cities ahead 9-4.

Troy Scribner (1-2) earned the victory, going three innings in relief of Chris Lee, who tossed four scoreless frames. Scribner gave up four runs, one earned, on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

The River Bandits and Bees combined to hit five home runs in the game, the most between Quad Cities and an opponent this season.

Quad Cities will wrap up the regular season tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Burlington. Michael Feliz (8-5, 3.87 ERA) is scheduled to make the start for the River Bandits against Burlington's Alex Blackford (1-4, 2.63).

UP NEXT: The final River Bandits games will be live online at riverbandits.com and TuneIn Radio. On Labor Day, the ballpark will open with free admission at 4 p.m. for the Red, White and Boom Fireworks show scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership recently 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. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.

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