By JOHN BOHNENKAMP
Owen Oreskovich knew he had some speed when he put together the Burlington Bees roster for the Prospect League season.
The manager put it to good use in Wednesday’s 8-6 win over the Alton River Dragons in the home season opener at Community Field.
The Bees had six stolen bases, consistently putting pressure on the River Dragons. Alton also had two throwing errors on pickoff throws to first base, which kept traffic moving on the bases.
“Yeah, that helps,” Oreskovich said of the speed. Some guys I knew were going to be running. I like to run, we run at Mount Mercy, too (where Oreskovich is the team’s hitting coach). It puts pressure on the defense, it puts pressure on their pitcher to make pitches. I enjoy that, being an offensive coach.”
“I think everybody tries to stay in their approach,” said center fielder Cooper Donlin, who had one of the stolen bases and scored three runs. “Put the ball in play, put in play hard, use the tools you have.”
The speed was apparent in the first inning, and although it didn’t lead to a run, it set a tone for the rest of the night.
Jackson Rooker led off the game with a walk and then stole second and third. After Jackson Lindquist walked with one out, Oreskovich tried a double steal. Lindquist was safe at second, but Rooker was thrown out at the plate on a close call.
Donlin had an interesting trip around the bases in the Bees’ three-run third inning. He was hit by a pitch, went to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a passed ball, then scored on another passed ball.
“I look at myself as someone who’s fast, so I try to use those tools — use my speed, put the ball in play, get on base as much as I can,” Donlin said.
There was a little pop to the Bees’ offense. Kinnick Pusteoska hit a two-run home run off the scoreboard in the second inning, and Cedric Dunnwald and Scotty Savage each had doubles.
“I don’t know if we’re going to be a team that’s going to hit a lot of home runs,” Oreskovich said. “So I think we’re going to be a team that runs a lot.”
Every Burlington hitter got on base at least once.
“I think we’ve got a gritty group of hitters,” Oreskovich said. “I don’t know how many strikeouts we had hitting (the Bees had nine), but it didn’t feel like much.
Oreskovich got quality innings out of the three pitchers he used. Jackson Wohlers allowed just one hit in three innings to start the game. Joe Evans (1-0) allowed three hits in three innings. Bobby Helt pitched the final three innings for the save.
“I thought our pitchers did a good job of pounding the zone,” Oreskovich said. “Wohlers settled in after the first inning. First real game at home, it’s a little nerve-wracking. But I think he’ll be good for us this summer. Joe pitched well after he settled in, and Bobby gave us three really good innings.”
UP NEXT: The Bees play host to the O’Fallon Hoots in a 6:30 p.m. game on Wednesday. Jacob Zahner will be the starting pitcher for Burlington.
Photo: Burlington’s Cooper Donlin steals second base as Alton shortstop Cooper Howell looks for the call in Wednesday’s game at Community Field. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
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