Flyers help Varner claim his first victory

This night was a long time coming for the Schaumburg Flyers.

They sent starter Matt Varner to the hill Thursday in Joliet with an 0-6 record, and he came back with his first win.

After Varner (1-6) threw 6 innings, the Schaumburg bats came alive late to trounce the Joliet JackHammers 10-3 at Silver Cross Field.

For the second straight night, Schaumburg (16-23) put up an early run to support a previously struggling pitcher. With Bo Hart (1-for-3, 3 runs) on second base after he stole it with two outs in the first inning, Vince Harrison (4-for-5, 2 RBI) sent a single up the middle to make it 1-0.

More help came in the bottom half of the first on a superb defensive play by right fielder Lance Koenig (2-for-5, RBI). On a weak fly that sailed foul, Koenig made a great running catch before running into the right-field barrier. Perhaps sensing an opportunity, JackHammers third baseman Mike Caruso tagged up from first base in the hopes of advancing. Koenig collected himself, wheeled around and fired a strike to shortstop Mark Haske to nail Caruso as he slid into second.

Perhaps feeling the momentum of that great defensive play, the Flyers put up two more in the top of the third against Joliet (18-20). Jackhammers starter Aaron Trolia (5-2) got two quick outs until allowing a Bo Hart double into left field. After Harrison drove in Hart on a single to make it 2-0 and Kurt Crowell walked, Chris Gaskin (3-for-3, 5 RBI) singled to get Harrison home and make it a 3-0 score.

Joliet couldn't score on Varner until a Caruso sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, and they eventually chased the Flyers starter in the seventh inning with two runs to make it a 5-3 score. That's when reliever Chris Saenz came in to strike out Doc Brooks to end the seventh and the threat.

In the top of the eighth, Schaumburg virtually assured Varner of his first win with an enormous two-out rally. A single by Jermaine Allensworth (3-for-6) started the barrage of hits, which reached its crescendo with a Chris Gaskin double into left field. Gaskin had his best game as a Flyer at the plate, driving in five runs during the contest, giving him 27 on the season.

Now the Flyers look to make it three wins in a row at home on Friday against the Gary SouthShore RailCats. On Fireworks Night at Alexian Field, Schaumburg will look to put some fireworks on the board against Gary starter Kai Tuomi (2-1, 4.22). The Flyers will counter with Brian Finch (0-1, 4.78) for the 6:45 p.m. start.