…And Move Into First Place in CCL-White (--by Brett Kruschke)
June 1st, 2005
An already frustrating season hit rock-bottom last week, as Veseli and Green Isle delivered virtually identical poundings, dropping the Tigers to 2-8. Veseli punished the Plainesmen 11-1, while the Irish used a 9-run inning to smoke the locals 12-1; both games were on the road and 10-run rule, 7-inning affairs.
Despite it all, the Tigers slipped into first place in the Carver Central League – White Division! That’s right – at 1-3, El Tigre is tops over 1-4 Gaylord and Winthrop, 1-6 Brownton, and 0-2 St. Peter. “That’s nothing to be proud of, Rusty.”
With one-third of the regular season schedule in the books, the Tigers hope to use the week off over Memorial Day weekend to recharge their batteries and start anew. All I know is, one-third of the way through the season, rookie manager Shane Hofmann has Tigers in first place in the CCL-White. We like to call it the “bottom line” in Tigertown.
Chaska will welcome the Tigers to the month of June with a 7:30 pm affair on Thursday the 2 nd, at Chaska. On Saturday, Belle Plaine wraps up a five-game road trip by heading to Stearns County to tussle with the New Munich Silver Streaks. Game time for that one is 1:30 pm. On Sunday night at 6:00 pm, the boys finally return to the friendly confines of Tiger Park, against Winthrop.
The 7th annual Tigertown Classic is next weekend, June 10-12 at Tiger Park, featuring some great teams. Full details will follow in next week’s Herald, but for an impatient world, www.bptigertown.com has the lowdown as we speak. “All You Can Eat” Pork Burger Night has officially been rescheduled for the first night of the Tigertown Classic – Friday, June 10 – meaning you can get two games of eating in for your $5.
BP 1 vs. Veseli 11 @ Union Hill (Tuesday, May 24 – 7 innings)
| 5/24/05 | 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Belle Plaine (2-7) | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
| Veseli | 5 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
X |
11 |
12 |
1 |
There’s nothing I can say (or really care to) that hasn’t already been written on bptigertown.com, but if I want to keep getting my free subscription to the Herald, I guess I better trudge on. In Mike Schultz’s only other start this year, versus Elko, he looked terrific while yielding two earned runs in six innings, with ten strikeouts. That tune changed quickly, when Veseli’s Warriors posted a five-spot in the first, book-marked by a pair of home runs.
Schultz settled down a little, with zeroes the next two innings, but allowed two more in the fourth before calling it a day’s work. With the score at 7-0, the Tiger Train broke through with one in the fifth. But in the sixth, shoddy play behind reliever Dave Kreft led to four unearned runs, making it 11-1. After a quiet Tiger seventh, that was the ballgame.
El Tigre was charged with a season-high four errors.
BP 1 @ Green Isle 12 (Thursday, May 26)
| 5/26/05 | 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Belle Plaine (2-8) | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
| Green Isle (6-2) | 0 |
2 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
X |
12 |
12 |
1 |
Belle Plaine took a 1-0 lead in the second, when Zip Zellmann singled in Ryan Witt. Unfortunately, that would be the extent of the offensive highlights off stingy Green Isle hurler (and fellow Herald columnist) Mark “Sid” Herd.
Former Tiger Pat Moriarty led off with a double cheeseburger, and came around to score, along with Mike “Whitey” Herd, for a 2-1 lead. In the third, the assault became an all-out aerial against Tiger righty Jonny Schulz. When the dust settled, 13 Irish batted, and nine runs were in. “Nine times, Mrs. Bueller – nine times…”
By that point of the game, it was just a matter of how many times the original Jock Jams cd would be played.
Schulz took his third loss in as many decisions and lasted just 2.1 innings, but managed to plunk former Tigers Moriarty and “Hot Dog” Miller before exiting. Ironic, but merely a coincidence!
Mike Dhaene’s fifth-inning double was the Tigers’ first extra-base hit in five games.
This page was created and maintained by Nick Kornder, Sports Information Director at Northern State University. The views and ideas on this page are that of the author, and not those of Northern State University.