** The following is an official game recap from the site of the Washington Wild Things **
A one-run pitcher’s duel on a windy Wednesday evening between two of the top teams in the Frontier League featured the Wild Things’ coming out victorious in a 7-2 shucking of the Normal Cornbelters at The Corn Crib.
First baseman Stewart Ijames cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fifth as the rookie from Louisville University drove an opposite field solo shot for his second homerun on the year, giving the Things a 1-0 lead midway through the game.
In the bottom of the sixth frame, an RBI groundout by pinch-hitter TJ Gavlik plated Normal shortstop Patrick McKenna, who previously doubled, to knot the game even.
Washington retook the lead in the top of the seventh when New York Yankee fan and switch-hitting shortstop AJ Nunziato ripped a double to left field scoring Vahalik, who earlier led off the seventh with a single. Advancing on a wild pitch by Cornbelters’ starter Ryan Demmin, Nunziato would round the bases after an RBI bloop single by Shain Stoner to put the Wild Things in front 3-1.
Normal quickly responded with another run of their own in the bottom of the eighth on another RBI fielder’s choice play.
But the Wild Things broke open the scoreboard in the top of the ninth and added four runs in the frame due to aggressive baserunning, a few clutch singles, and a pair of errors by the Cornbelters infielders.
The Cornbelters threatened with bases juiced in the bottom of the ninth, but reliever Matt Phillips was able to shut down one of the league’s top offensive teams to secure the win.
Washington southpaw Anthony Collazo, who was making his second start on the hill this season, displayed near perfection, as he threw five innings of scoreless baseball, allowing 4 hits and recorded five strikeouts.
Washington returns home on Friday to take on the Evansville Otters in a 70’s night at CONSOL Energy Park. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the CONSOL Energy Park Box Office.
For the complete box score visit: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=123443
By: Debbie Hilton
Photo Credit: Observer Reporter
