Bob Hunt Photographer

It was a beautiful fall afternoon on Saturday, so I traveled downtown to get some game action shots of Bradley University as they took on Illinois Central College at O’Brien Field. The game went 11 innings so everyone on both teams could get some live game situations. The Braves led by head baseball coach Elvis Dominguez outlasted the Cougars and head coach Brett Kelley. Click here to view more photo’s to purchase.

-Bob

I went down to O’Brien Field to photograph the next to last home game of the season of the Peoria Chiefs. Looking to shoot some behind the scenes stuff of the crowd rather than the game, after nearly six months of shooting baseball over the summer. Hope you enjoy the snapshots as I get ready for fall season.

-Bob

The Peoria Chiefs committed 5 costly errors were defeated by the Burlington Bees 5-1 before 3,234 fans on Bradley University Community night at O’Brien Field. All five of there runs scored were unearned. The Chiefs could manage just two hits off Burlington starter Tanner Peters (2-4), who also struck out eight in five innings of work. Chiefs starting pitcher Jeffry Antigua (1-2) took the loss. Bradley Braves new women’s head basketball coach Michael Brooks threw out the first pitch prior to the start of the game. Click here for the game box score.

-Bob

The home run derby may have been scheduled for Tuesday night but no one told the players that, as the 2012 State Farm Frontier League All-Star game saw the two teams combined for a total of seven long balls on the evening, with the Eastern Division’s best prevailing over the All-Stars from the West 9-6 Wednesday night at the Corn Crib. London Rippers first baseman Joash Brodin was honored with the game’s Most Valuable Player Award, going 4-5 with a homerun and three runs scored. The squad from the East treated fans at the Corn Crib to souvenirs early and often, with Traverse City’s Jose Vargas opening the scoring in the top of the first when he belted a two-out, solo shot to the top of the berm in left. Southern Illinois Miners outfielder Chad Maddox extended the East’s lead when he too hammered a solo home-run in the top of the second inning. Normal CornBelter catcher Pat Trettel gave the hometown fans something to cheer about as he helped cut into the East’s lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame, bringing in Schaumburg Boomers outfielder Chad Mozingo. The next batter, River City outfielder Jason Patton, knocked in Gateway’s Jarod Yakubik with an RBI single of his own, bringing the score to 9-6, but the West would get no closer. Lake Erie Crushers left hander Paul Fagan picked up the win for the East, while Gateway right handed pitcher Tim Brown took the loss. Regular season games resume on Friday.

-Bob

Russell Moldenhauer of the Lake Erie Crushers belted his way to a victory defeating Florence’s Jim Jacquot in the State Farm Frontier League Home Run Derby with five home runs in the final Tuesday night at The Corn Crib before 4,290 fans. Round one saw Jacquot, Moldenhauer, London’s Joash Brodin, and Traverse City’s Jeff Flagg hammering the most long balls, narrowing the field of 14 to the final four contestants. Flagg advanced by overpowering Windy City’s Chad Cregar and River City’s Charlie Lisk in a tiebreaker for the final spot. “I was surprised I got there. It went way better than I ever imagined,” the 6-1, 210-pound Jacquot said. “I had to go opposite field with the wind, not necessarily ideal for hitting home runs. But he (Moldenhauer) did a good job. It was going to be tough to beat him.” Normal’s Pat Trettel did not clear the fence in his allotted eight first-round swings. The festivities continue tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. when the Western Division All-Stars face off against the Eastern Division in the 2012 State Farm Frontier League All-Star Game. Click here for complete results.

-Bob