Jacob Wilson cracked a walk off, three-run homer to center field in the bottom of the ninth to give the Peoria Chiefs a 13-10 win Wednesday night against the Lake County Captains before 2,053 fans. It was one of six extra base hits that led to the Chiefs win, bumping their record to 11-12 this season. Lake County scored early after former first-round pick LeVon Washington singled to lead off the game against Joe Cuda. Captains shortstop Dorssys Paulino reached on a Breyvic Valera error and two batters later, Joe Sever drove in Washington with a single. Paulino scored on a double-play by Nellie Rodriguez, putting the Captains up 2-0 after the top half of the first inning. The Chiefs responded against the Captains’ Mitch Brown with four runs in the bottom of the first frame. With two outs, Wilson became the Chiefs first baserunner after being hit by a pitch. Patrick Wisdom struck out swinging, but reached first on a wild pitch while Wilson found third on a throwing error by catcher Eric Haase. After Carson Kelly walked to load the bases, Geoff Klein belted a grand slam, his first long ball of the year. The hit doubled his season RBI total and put the Chiefs up 4-2. Down 10-8, the Chiefs scratched across a run in the eighth inning. Wilson led off the frame with a single, but was thrown out trying to score on a Kelly double. Kelly later scored, however, on an error by Erik Gonzalez, but the tying run was thrown out at second. The Chiefs weren’t done, scoring four runs in the bottom of ninth to win the game. Nick Martini led off with a single and advanced to third on a Casey Rasmus pinch-hit double. He then scored on a Steven Ramos sacrifice fly to center field tied the game at ten. After Francisco Valera stuck out and Tilson was hit by a pitch, Wilson smashed a three-run home run to win the game for the Chiefs.
-Bob
Retired Peoria Rivermen center Tyler Rennette was inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday night in a on ice ceremony at Carver Arena between periods of the game between the Lake Erie Monsters and the Rivermen. He was surrounded by his wife and three children. He was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round #40 overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Enjoy photo’s from his induction and some shot’s from the 30th anniversary Peoria Rivermen alumni game played March 23, 2012.
-Bob
Jerrod Hull (#12) from Sikeston, MO. edged Don Droud Jr. (#71) by four hundredths of a second to win Saturday’s 28th Annual Tom Knowles Memorial at Spoon River Speedway. It was the second year in a row that the defending MOWA champion and current point leader has won the event. Hull led at the outset from the pole position he earned by winning the Dash from row three. Geoff Dodge (#66) settled into second ahead of Droud. By the halfway mark, the leaders were in heavy traffic and Dodge closed on Hull. On lap 16, the lapped machine of Bret Tripplett slowed and Hull made heavy contact with him causing nose wing damage. Dodge made contact as well, as Droud avoided the incident. All would continue on a restart that saw Hull ahead of Dodge, Droud, AJ Bruns (#44) and Ben Wagoner (#84).
MOWA Sprint Series Main Event - 25 laps: 1. 12, Jerrod Hull, Sikeston, MO (1) 2. 71, Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE (6) 3. 66, Geoff Dodge, Colorado Springs, CO (2) 4. 65, Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL (13) 5. 22, Robbie Standridge, Springfield, IL (9) 6. 99w, Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL (10) 7. 3Y, Scott Young, Union Grove, WI (12) 8. 44, AJ Bruns, Athens, IL (8) 9. 23, Jimmy Light, West Springfield, PA (19) 10. 10s, Jeremy Standridge, Springfield, IL (7) 11. 84, Ben Wagoner, Emden, IL (4) 12. 35, Jimmy Hurley, Springfield, IL (15) 13. 7, Critter Malone, Speedway, IN (5) 14. 77u, Chris Urish, Elkhart, IL (18) 15. 53H, Matt Harms, Lacon, IL (3) 16. 2K, Ryan Kempin, House Springs, MO (11) 17. 96, Nathan Charron, Lincoln, IL (14) 18. 9, Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL (17) 19. 22T, Bret Tripplett, Lincoln, IL (16) 20. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (20). Lap Leaders: Hull 1-25.
Brad Kuhn (#57) of Avon, Ind., found a fast outside line and drove to victory, the 21st of his career in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series. Kuhn started fourth in the 30-lap feature on the three-eighths mile high-banked track and led the final 17 for his second POWRi win of the season. He finished three car lengths in front of Zach Daum, Davey Ray finished third, Tyler Robbins was fourth and local favorite Jake Blackhurst finished fifth. Evan Fink from Glasford, IL (#1F) dominated and won the late model feature.
-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
Winn, Michigan Expert Pro TT rider Henry Wiles has become the new fan favorite in Peoria, Illinois, as he’s been the clear-cut winner for eight straight years (tying Chris Carr) as he continues his dominance at historic PMC Race Park. Second and third place finishers, Jared Mees and Jake Johnson made several attempts at closing the gap during the race, but unfortunately for them, Wiles never gave an inch and diminished any hope they might have had in catching him. JD Beach and last week’s winner Sammy Halbert rounded out the top five in the Expert Pro main event. Pole sitter Dominic Colindres got off to an incredible start in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles main event, but it was erased as a four-bike pile-up on lap two forced the red flags to come out and demand a restart. However, the restart had no effect on Collindres as he got the holeshot for the second time and never looked back on his way to victory. There was no denying Collindres as he was won by more than a full second over second-place finisher Stephen Vanderkuur. Justin Reed claimed third place with a solid performance on the KTM 450 SX-F.
-Bob
