With a sellout crowd of 7,142 in attendance for Star Wars night at the ballpark, starter PJ Francescon put on a show of his own leading the Peoria Chiefs to a dominating 2-1 win over the Burlington Bees Saturday night. Despite the win, the game saw the end of Paul Hoilman’s franchise-record 24-game hit streak which began on April 14th. The Chiefs took advantage of some faulty defense in the bottom of the third. After walking his fifth batter of the game to start the frame, Burlington starter Raul Alcantara hurled an errant pickoff throw to first allowing Zeke DeVoss to scoot all the way to third. Taiwan Easterling was unable to get one past the drawn in infield but another errant throw from shortstop Sean Jamieson allowed DeVoss to cross home giving Peoria a 1-0 lead without recording a hit. After back-to-back flyouts, Easterling stole second and was brought home on a RBI single by Wes Darvill extending the Chiefs’ lead to 2-0. Click for complete game stats.
-Bob
The Peoria Chiefs opened there 30th consecutive baseball campaign against the Quad City River Bandits before 3,273 fans at O’Brien Field. Quad Cities scored five runs in the top of the ninth as the Chiefs gave away the home opener 8-3. The loss spoiled two excellent outings by starter Benjamin Wells and reliever Kyler Burke. The Chiefs left 10 runners on base and went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Click here for the Box Score.
-Bob
There was no shortage of heroes for the Bradley University Baseball team in Sunday’s series finale against Missouri State (24-10, 4-2 MVC) at O’Brien Field before 510 fans on a sunny Easter Sunday. The Braves (16-12-1, 3-3 MVC) earned a 4-3 victory to win the series 2-games-to-1 against the league’s preseason favorite. Junior left fielder Mike Tauchman drove in the winning run in the eighth inning by dumping a 2-out single into left field to bring home freshman first baseman Andrew Wasmund from third. Senior closer Danny Gifford worked around a 2-out walk in the ninth to earn his fifth save of the season to nail down Bradley’s fifth win in its last five games. Redshirt freshman right-hander Patrick Flanagan was stellar in his first start of the season, subbing for the injured John Nasshan. Flanagan threw six scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out four. Click Here for Box Score.
-Bob
The Peoria Rivermen (38-30-4, 80 pts.) kept pushing towards the playoffs Thursday night as they defeated the Texas Stars 3-2 at Carver Arena before 5,235 fans. Adam Cracknell and Patrick O’Sullivan scored third period goals to lead Peoria to their 38th win of the year. It took 26:53 for the game’s first goal to be scored and it came off the stick of Peoria’s Derek Nesbitt. T.J. Hensick entered the Texas zone on the left wing, sent a cross ice pass to Phil McRae, who found a streaking Derek Nesbitt up the middle. Nesbitt tipped in his 21st of the year past Jack Campbell. Texas evened things up at 13:39 of the middle frame when Matt Fraser netted his league-leading 35th goal of the year. Colton Sceviour skated the puck behind the net and snuck a backhand pass to Fraser in the slot who fired a quick shot past Jake Allen. The Rivermen outshot the Stars 38-34 and went 0-for-4 on the man advantage. Texas also failed to score on the power play. Click Here for Game Box Score.
-Bob
I was honored to be asked to spend a day photographing some various young children at Easter Seals as they received therapy from loving professionals who are devoted to making progress in the lives of kids with disabilities. It is a humbling experience to be in the room as the therapists work with each child one on one, with passion and dignity shown to them it is unlike anything I have witnessed in my adult life.
-Bob
