Short goes long for Fielders
The Lake County Fielders refused to come up Short on Sunday. Josh Short blasted his 13th home run of the season, a 2-run shot that drove in Amos Ramon, to help the host Fielders defeat the Rockford RiverHawks 6-2 before 3,105 in Zion.
Short and Ramon will be representing the Fielders on the Northern League all-star team Wednesday against the Golden League all-stars in Tuscon, Ariz. Short will also participate in a home run derby contest today.
Kevin Haas had a double and a sacrifice fly and scored a run for the Fielders (18-27). Jeff Dunbar and Aaron Cone had back-to-back doubles and Brandon Anderson chipped in an RBI single.
Garry Bakker (3-4) was the winning pitcher, working 6 innings while allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits with 10 strikeouts and 6 walks.
RedHawks 5, Flyers 3: For the second day in a row, Nic Jackson hit a clutch home run, this time a 3-run blast in the seventh inning that snapped a 2-2 tie and propelled the host Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks past the Schaumburg Flyers at Newman Outdoor Field.
The Flyers (19-31), who lost three of four in the weekend series, received a solid effort from starting pitcher Alain Quijano, who allowed 2 runs on 4 hits in 6 innings with 4 strikeouts and 5 walks but did not figure in the decision.
RedHawks all-star reliever Casey Hoorelbeke (6-2) made his league-leading 26th appearance of the season and picked up the win with 2 scoreless innings.
The Flyers' Joe Nowicki was 3-for-4, including his fourth home run of the season. Ray Bourquin, Joey Gomes and Josh Burress all had 2 hits.
LumberKings 6, Cougars 2: The host Kane County Cougars attempted to rally for a fourth straight comeback victory, but they fell short in a loss to the Clinton LumberKings at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.
The Cougars trailed 6-0 entering the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Anthony Aliotti, Rashun Dixon and Myrio Richard walked. Leonardo Gil hit a 2-run single to make it 6-2. But the LumberKings' Brandon Josselyn got the final out to notch his 11th save.
Starter Dan Straily (6-6) took the loss. He allowed 4 runs on 10 hits in 62/3 innings.
Bandits 8, Racers 0: Chicago pitcher Eileen Canney (1-2) gained a measure of revenge - and helped the Bandits climb into first place.
The last time she faced the Akron Racers, Canney allowed 1 on 3 hits in 6 innings in a no-decision that the Bandits eventually lost in extra innings.
This time, Canney (1-2) pitched a complete-game, 4-hit shutout as the host Bandits (14-8) pounded the Racers at Judson University in Elgin.
The Bandits recorded a dozen hits. The Bandits' Emily Friedman went 3-for-4, including a home run, RBI sougle and a single. Angela Findlay had a homer, double and 2 RBI.