River Bandits lose 2-0 lead but recover for three-game sweep of Captains

DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 21, 2014) - Quad Cities first baseman Chase McDonald hit a three-run, walk-off home run in the 10^th inning off Lake County right-hander Alexis Paredes to give the River Bandits a 5-2 victory and their first-ever series sweep of the Captains in front of 3,186 at Modern Woodmen Park Monday afternoon.

Quad Cities (15-15 second half, 50-49 overall) achieved its first three-game winning streak since July 3 to complete its first sweep of an opponent in a season series since sweeping West Michigan in three games May 31-June 2, 2011. Neither Quad Cities nor Lake County (15-15, 42-58) had swept one another in the first four years of their annual three-game interdivision series.

A third straight River Bandits starter did not allow an earned run. Right-hander Adrian Houser worked around a pair of one-out walks in the first inning, in part thanks to a diving catch by center fielder James Ramsay on a line drive by Captains first baseman Nellie Rodriguez.

Quad Cities scored first for a third straight game in the second inning, when right-hander Caleb Hamrick walked designated hitter Ronnie Mitchell. After Mitchell stole second base, left fielder Jose Fernandez drove an RBI triple to right-center field scoring Mitchell for a 1-0 lead. Second baseman Marc Wik lined the next pitch to right-center field to score Fernandez for a 2-0 lead. Houser allowed a Lake County run in the third inning. Second baseman Claudio Bautista singled to left field, and right fielder Mike Papi hit a two-out fly ball toward left field, which Fernandez dropped for an error that allowed Bautista to score, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Houser worked around a double in the fourth inning, a single in the fifth inning, and a walk and hit batter in the sixth inning. He allowed one unearned run on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts in his fourth six-inning start of the season. Right-hander Frederick Tiburcio relieved him for the seventh inning and allowed a leadoff walk before stranding the tying run at third base to end the inning.

For the Captains, Hamrick allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts in five innings. Right-hander Jimmy Stokes struck out five batters in two scoreless innings, and right-hander Trevor Frank struck out one in two hitless innings.

River Bandits right-hander Andrew Walter (4-2) worked a perfect eighth inning. In the ninth, he allowed a leadoff single by left fielder Dorssys Paulino, who went to second base on a passed ball and to third base on third baseman Paul Hendrix's single. Walter struck out designated hitter Brian Ruiz before shortstop Ivan Castillo hit a slow ground ball that scored Paulino when shortstop Thomas Lindauer threw out Castillo at first base. Walter struck out Bautista with the go-ahead run at second base to keep the 2-2 tie. In the 10^th inning, Walter allowed a one-out walk and two-out single but struck out two batters to match a career high with five strikeouts in three innings.

In the bottom of the 10^th inning, Paredes entered to allow a single by third baseman J.D. Davis, who had his second straight two-hit game. Mitchell hit a fly ball that Paulino overran in left field for an error putting runners at second and third bases. McDonald then hit an 0-1 pitch for a towering fly ball to left field that dropped over the fence for his first career walk-off home run and ninth of the season.

Quad Cities begins a six-game road trip to Eastern Division ballparks at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer (1-2) is scheduled to start the three-game series opener in the team's first visit to Fifth Third Field as an Astros affiliate.

Chase McDonald homers in fifth straight multi-hit game for Quad Cities, which loses, 7-4

DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 17, 2014) - The Fort Wayne TinCaps became the first visiting team to hit three home runs in a game at Modern Woodmen Park this season, as catcher Adolfo Reina homered twice, and right fielder Franmil Reyes added another in a 7-4 TinCaps win over the Quad Cities River Bandits, who dropped a season-high fifth straight game in front of 5,376 Thursday night.

For a fifth straight game, Quad Cities saw its opponent take at least a five-run lead against its starting pitcher. Right-hander Andrew Thurman allowed a game-opening triple by shortstop Trea Turner down the left-field line, and designated hitter Dustin Peterson hit a sacrifice fly to left-field for his league lead-tying 70^th RBI, giving Fort Wayne (9-17 second half, 39-56 overall) a 1-0 lead.

On Thurman's first pitch of the second inning, Reina hit his first home run to left field, where it reached a leg of the Ferris wheel on one bounce. In the third inning, Turner had a bunt single, Peterson reached on an error by third baseman J.D. Davis, and with one out, Reyes launched his eighth home run of the season to left-center field for a 5-0 TinCaps lead. Thurman allowed two home runs in a game for the first time in his career and was charged with four earned runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts in four innings, matching the longest any River Bandits starter has pitched in the previous four games.

TinCaps right-hander Jimmi Brasoban (1-4) worked around a hit and walk to face the minimum through the first three innings. In the fourth inning, River Bandits right fielder Brett Phillips led off with his second single to right field, and left fielder Marc Wik bounced a ground ball off the glove of first baseman Jake Bauers to put runners at first and third bases. With one out and Wik running from first base, designated hitter Ronnie Mitchell hit an RBI single through the vacated shortstop hole, and first baseman Chase McDonald followed with a single to left field. With two outs, second baseman Jose Fernandez lined a single to left-center field, cutting the deficit to 5-3. Brasoban retired the next four batters to match his season high of five innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

After extending his season-high seven-game hitting streak, McDonald hit a two-out, solo home run - his seventh of the season - off the center-field batter's eye to make it 5-4 against right-hander Josh Richardson. Richardson set down four straight to finish two relief innings.

River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee kept the deficit to one run through the seventh inning, as he allowed one hit and two walks with one strikeout in three relief innings. Right-hander Frederick Tiburcio started the eighth inning, and Reina smacked his first pitch out to left-center field for his second home run - and the first by any batter against Tiburcio since Aug. 13, 2013. Center fielder Ronnie Richardson doubled to right-center field, moved to second base on left fielder Nick Schulze's single and scored when second baseman Rey Bruguera reached on a roller misplayed by Holberton on the first-base line, allowing Fort Wayne a 7-4 lead. A walk loaded the bases before Tiburcio got a popup for the first out, but left-hander Albert Minnis entered to get two ground-ball outs and work 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings.

TinCaps right-hander Ryan Butler pitched the final two innings to earn his first save. He got help from the TinCaps third double play of the night in the eighth inning. Quad Cities brought the tying run to bat in the ninth, but pinch hitter Brett Booth grounded into a fielder's choice.

Quad Cities (12-13, 47-48) has its first five-game losing streak since Aug. 12-17, 2013, and seeks to snap it in Friday's 7 p.m. series finale with Fort Wayne. River Bandits right-hander Jandel Gustave (5-4) is scheduled to face TinCaps right-hander Cody Hebner (0-1).

DES MOINES, IA - The Des Moines Area Sports Commission has landed two more cycles of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games, both 2018 and 2023. The Games is a $1.5 million event run by the Des Moines Area Sports Commission staff, generating $47 million in economic impact for the Greater Des Moines economy. This announcement comes amid preparation for the 48th annual event in Des Moines?July 22 - August 2, 2014.

"Our hard work leading up to 2014 is paying off. The AAU governing body recognizes the strength of our community support, excellent venues and understanding of youth sports. Des Moines continues to deliver as a sports destination," says Katie Fencl, Director of Sports with the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, a division of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. Fencl is also Director of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines.

"We're honored to host the AAU Junior Olympic Games not only this year?but looking ahead to coming years as well," says Greg Edwards, President and CEO with the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Des Moines Area Sports Commission.

2014 by the Numbers:

·         40,000 visitors to Central Iowa

·         30,000 hotel room nights for Greater Des Moines

·         14,000 athletes expected; ages 3 to 22 years old

·         2,600 volunteers

·         2,000 coaches

·         20 sports represented

·         5 Greater Des Moines venues; primarily the Iowa Events Center & Drake Stadium

·         3 times Greater Des Moines has previously hosted: 1995, 2004 & 2009

·         1 Honorary Chair of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games: Suzie Glazer Burt

Mark your calendars! The Games will catch Des Moines July 25 - August 4, 2018 and July 26 - August 5, 2023.

How to Get Involved with the 2014 Event:

·         For media credential requests, CLICK HERE. Deadline is Saturday, July 19.

·         For volunteer opportunities, CLICK HERE. Shifts are available in four to six hour increments.

·         For a full schedule of events and ticket information, visit catchdesmoines.com/AAUJO.

About the Amateur Athletic Union

Founded in 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest multi-sport, not-for-profit, volunteer organizations in the United States. It is dedicated to the development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for youth and adults. The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the largest national multi-sport event for amateur youth conducted in the United States.

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– On Saturday, July 19 a park ranger discusses "Herbert Hoover's National Parks": special places like Arches, Isle Royale, George Washington Birthplace, Sunset Crater Volcano, and other national parks and monuments preserved by Herbert Hoover's administration. The presentation is free and begins at 2 p.m. in the visitor center.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS