Tigers Win One For the Amsdens

7/19/09

A huge crowd was on hand Sunday night at Riverside Park, as the Tigers hosted Leavenworth. Long-time supporters of Springfield baseball Stan and Loretta Amsden were honored in a pre-game ceremony. The teams didn't disappoint, playing an excellent ball game with the Tigers coming out on top, 3-2.

The Tigers jumped out to a lead in the bottom of the first, when Brandon Wilhelmi reached base on an error and Matt Baier drew a walk off of Leavenworth starter, Andy Cook. Brady Schwab moved the runners over to second and third with a sacrifice bunt before Ryan Sturm crushed a double, giving Springfield a 2-0 lead. Matt Tews was on the hill for the Tigers. After wiggling his way out of a jam in the top of the first, Tews allowed just one hit during the second through seventh innings.

Both hurlers exchanged zeros until the bottom of the fifth when Schwab started a two-out rally by being hit by a pitch. Back-to-back base hits by Ryan Sturm and Marc Salazar pushed in the Tigers' third run of the evening. Tews was the model of efficiency on the mound, throwing just 72 pitches through the first seven innings. In the eighth, he ran into some trouble. After a Tiger error, two Oriole hits, and a sacrifice fly pulled Leavenworth within one, but Tews was able to work his way out of the inning while his team still in the lead, 3-2.

Orioles pitchers Andy and John Cook combined to retire the final seven Springfield batters. With a one-run lead going into the ninth the home team handed the ball to Wilhelmi in a save situation. Brandon came through getting the final three outs and securing the Tiger victory.

The win capped off a great weekend in Springfield. Another huge Thank You to Stan and Loretta for all their work for Springfield baseball during the past fifty plus years! They have worked tirelessly for years making sure that everyone is well-fed, including many excellent burgers and the world's greatest potato salad. It was also Merchant's Night, as the Tigers thanked local businesses for their support in 2009. In addition, congratulations to Brandon Wilhelmi and Katie Baier who were married on Saturday!

Matt Tews earned his third win of the season, working a solid eight innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. Brandon Wilhelmi picked up his third save, working a scoreless ninth. Ryan Sturm picked up three of Springfield's seven hits, while Wilhelmi, Marc Salazar, Jordan Milbrath, and Andy Moritz added one hit each. The victory evens the Tigers' league record at 10-10. Things are tight in the Patriot Division of the Tomahawk East and next up for the Tigers is another division game against Stark on Wednesday night. So swing on over for a Stark Burger and what should be a good ball game!

Linescore

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB
Leavenworth 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 7 1 8
Springfield 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 x 3 7 2 8

Springfield Box

AB R H RBI BB SO
B. Wilhelmi, SS/P 4 1 1 0 0 1 2B
Baier, 2B/SS 3 1 0 0 1 1
Schwab, DH 2 1 0 0 0 0 SAC, HP
Frank, CF - - - - - -
R. Sturm, 3B 4 0 3 2 0 1 2B
Salazar, 1B 4 0 1 1 0 0
C. Sturm, LF 4 0 0 0 0 2
Milbrath, RF 4 0 1 0 0 3
Moritz, C 3 0 1 0 1 0
   Christensen, PR 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tews, P 3 0 0 0 0 0
   Haseleu, 2B - - - - - -
31 3 7 3 2 8
IP H R ER BB SO
Tews (W, 3-2) 8    7 2 1 2 1
Wilhelmi (SV, 3) 1    0 0 0 0 2

Pictures