Cal EGR (DH at Fifth Third) Recap April 29

Today, the Pioneers and the Scots met again for a doubleheader at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps, who lost today by the way 2-0 in a game completed an hour or so before the two teams arrived. Dan Zeman started on the bump for the Scots looking for another win. The Scots scored first in the top of the first with an RBI sac fly by Logan Hudson. East Grand Rapids responded with 2 runs on a triple to deep center to take the 2-1 lead. Neither team had much of an offensive threat until the 5th, when the Scots scored two runs. Tanner Schaafsma was credited with a sacrifice fly that gave Cal the 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, with the Scots a mere 5 outs from another league win, the wheels fell off and EGR got a huge inning. 5 walks, an error and one single lead to 8 East Grand Rapids runs and they took the 10-3 lead. Logan Hudson sacrifice flew out again to cut the lead to 10-4, but that was it and the Scots 4 game conference winning streak was snapped with a 10-4 loss to the Pioneers.
In the second game, a nonleague contest, the Scots sent out the nonleague ace, Matt Kikkert to try and earn a win. Kikkert threw well, but the defense behind him was not stellar. The Scots had 4 errors and left 5 men on base and lost the game 5-4, even though it was shortened to darkness to just a 5 inning affair. Caleb Sleeman, a PO let me remind you, led the Scots in batting in this game going 3 for 3, with an RBI, two singles and a triple. Also recording RBIs were Joe Stegehuis, Cody Jakiel and Nick Tuori. Tuori, along with Sam Vanderwal and Dan Zeman, all recorded their first at bats of the year going a combined 0-3. Shoutout to Blake Swift for recording his first varsity hit tonight! Also a  shoutout to sophomore Ben Snider, who was called up for todays ballgames and made his varsity debut as a defensive replacement in right field but unfortunately due to darkness did not register an at bat. The Scots fall to 9-6 on the year, and 6-2 in the OK White, which leaves them one game behind Lowell for first place. Caledonia and East Grand Rapids meet tomorrow at East Grand Rapids for the final game of the series, with first pitch at 430.

Game Thoughts:

1) I got an at bat, let's go. I don't want to be one to complain about umpiring but that was definitely ball four, I couldn't even possibly swing and hit it. But hey, I got the run in and first career RBI so that's a strikeout I can live with.
2) Sorry Keegs for my error at first, I honestly could not see the ball at first base, sun was setting and I didn't bring sunglasses because well I haven't played first base since I was on ol' Jerry Keron's freshman squad. First was a lot of fun though, it made me miss it that is for sure.
3) Shoutout to every single fan we had in attendance tonight, it made it one of the most enjoyable experiences of my playing career. I know we lost but it was so much fun and it definitely will be something I will always remember my entire life. Also a shoutout to whoever got this all organized, because it was just so sweet.
4) Shoutout to my brother, Zach Tuori as he turns 14 today. Funny story, yesterday after the game we were walking to the players parking lot and he was batting at practice at the freshman field and he struck out and Paas said "wow you look like your brother" only for Zach to reply, "at least I can foul something off". If that doesn't describe Zach in one story, I don't know what would.
5) On a serious baseball note, we gotta clean up the errors if we are going to make a legitimate run. Having multiple errors in all of these games is going to haunt us big time eventually, more than it already does.
6) Thank god Sleeman could rep the PO's well at the plate tonight. I mean Z's fly ball to left was pretty good too, and obviously he thought so too because he was already in full on home run trot..Sammy and I looked good at the plate though and that's what matters the most.