T-Bones Use 13 Runs to Top Wichita in NL-AA Challenge Finale05/04/2008 9:44 PM - The T-Bones even their exhibition record at one with 13-11 win Sunday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark to earn the Northern League a split in the weekend challenge. On day one of the Northern League-American Association Challenge, Northern League teams were outscored 11-3 as Wichita and Lincoln topped Fargo-Moorhead and Kansas City respectively. The Northern League responded by winning both games on Sunday to force a split in the weekend competition. The RedHawks beat the SaltDogs 8-3 before the T-Bones topped the Wingnuts 13-11 in the night cap. This weekends event marked the first time the two leagues have got together to have a tournament-type event.
The T-Bones even their exhibition record at one with 13-11 win Sunday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark to earn the Northern League a split in the weekend challenge. The Wichita Wingnuts scored first, starting the game with a solo home run by leadoff man Kevin Hooper off T-Bones starter Kenny Durost. That would end up being the only hit Durost would allow in his three innings of work.
The T-Bones answered with four runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead for good. Aharon Eggleston opened the inning with a single to center, three batters later Brad Correll doubled him home. After a Jim Fasano single, former Texas Ranger Kevin Mahar homered to right-center, part of a three-hit day, plating three runs to put the T-Bones up 4-1. Kansas City would add another run in the bottom of the second on a solo home run by Craig Hurba. Fasano added another run with a solo home run in the third.
The T-Bones opened the game up with four more runs in the bottom of the fifth getting RBI from Fasano, Neb Brown, Hurba and Josh Stinson. The T-Bones used a 10 hitter lineup in the game, and all of them came to the plate in the fifth. Wichita chipped back into the game after a two-run home run from Brenan Herrera. Correll answered with a two-run shot of his own in the bottom of the inning which scored Mario Delgado.
The Wingnuts drew closer when they added four runs in the top of the seventh off T-Bones reliever Jerry Oakes. Wichita got singles from Felipe Del Rosario and Brandon McConnell to open the inning. Hooper followed with a walk to load the bases. Then, with one out Dustin Mohr reached on an error by Fasano at first leading to two runs. A walk to Chris Colton loaded the bases before David Gates got hit by a pitch to drive home Hooper. Michael Thompson capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field, which plated Mohr. Oakes allowed seven runs, five earned, in 1 1/3 innings in relief.
The T-Bones got their fifth home run of the game on a solo shot to left by Rob Watson in the Bottom of the eighth to put them up 13-10. David Haehnel picked up a save when he closed out the game for the T-Bones allowing an unearned run in the top of the ninth. Kenny Durost picked up the win and Blake Gailen took the loss. The T-Bones got scoreless relief work from Mark Michael, two innings; Chris Rhodes, 2/3 of an inning; and David Trahan, one inning.
The T-Bones are back in action with an exhibition game against the Kansas City Kansas Community College Blue Devils Wednesday, May 7 at 7:05 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The T-Bones open their home schedule at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on May 23 against Schaumburg. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. Single-game tickets, season tickets and mini plans are available now by calling the T-Bones box office at (913) 328-5618. |